Housing

Sustainable Design

Passive Houses Cheshire

Passivhaus is an international energy performance standard that is truly energy efficient. Passivhaus buildings provide a high level of occupant comfort while using very little energy for heating and cooling.

They are built with meticulous attention to detail through rigorous design and construction, and delivered according to principles developed by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany which is certified through an exacting quality assurance process.

Passivhaus buildings achieve a 75% reduction in space heating requirements, compared to standard practice for a UK new build house. The Passivhaus standard therefore sets out a robust method of approach to help the property industry achieve the 80% carbon reductions that are set as a legislative target for the UK Government. Such notable reductions in energy consumption are primarily achieved by adopting a fabric first approach to the design, by specifying a highly insulated thermal envelope with exceptional levels of airtightness and the use of whole house mechanical ventilation.

This proposal is for 5no. 4 and 5 bedroomed homes proposed at a site which is set within the landscaped grounds of a Grade II* listed hall in Cheshire. We have retained the character of a loose cluster of buildings, set around a communal courtyard each with its own private courtyard. The site layout and orientation of the buildings has been carefully considered to respect the heritage asset and estate grounds and has optimised the site in relation to Passivhaus principles.

Building to Passivhaus Standards through this fabric first approach inherently delivers highly energy efficient homes which by far exceed current Building Regulations, but we don’t want to stop there…… We want to push the boundaries of zero carbon living further by adding additional renewable energy sources in order to reduce further the carbon footprint of this development proposal, and as such the scheme is a clear example of where high end and high value properties can generate enhanced commerciality by respecting and promoting these intentions as a sustainable and conscientious design approach the new luxury homes.