Norwich, UK, 18/08/22 – Passivhaus pioneer Beattie Passive, the first company in the UK to be certified for a complete build system by the Passivhaus Institut in Germany, has completed the UK's first large-scale, demountable and relocatable 'Passivhaus Plus' volumetric modular 'Net Zero' housing development for Cardiff Council.
Developed on the site of a former gasworks in Grangetown, which was acquired by Cardiff Council in 2020, the scheme is comprised of forty-eight volumetric one, two and three-bedroom modular apartments and two large ancillary blocks, which have all been constructed to the rigorous performance requirements of the internationally recognised 'Passivhaus Plus' certification – the gold standard of energy efficiency for buildings.
The scheme has been developed as a 'meanwhile' housing solution to provide temporary accommodation for families experiencing homelessness. Cardiff Council is providing wraparound services and support for residents. The site boasts an office block for staff, a training room, a training kitchen, a 24/7 medical office and a crèche.
Designed in the Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) and constructed around Beattie Passive's patented sustainable timber-frame build system, the homes at Ferry Road maximise airtightness and minimise thermal bridging to reduce energy consumption by up to 90%. The blocks are also equipped with photovoltaic panels. Not only does this mean that the buildings are phenomenally energy efficient – effectively eliminating fuel poverty – it also means that the entire development is rated 'Net Zero'.
By definition, properties certified to the Passivhaus Plus standard must incorporate renewable energy. According to the Passivhaus Trust, a building certified to the Passivhaus Plus standard not only dramatically reduces energy consumption, but it also produces enough energy from renewable sources to operate the building throughout the year. In effect, each home at Ferry Road produces as much energy as it consumes.
One of the major benefits of the scheme at Ferry Road is the fact that the entire development is demountable and relocatable. The carbon saving potential of the project is enormous. Commenting, Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Cardiff Council, said: "The flexibility of this fully demountable system means they can be moved elsewhere in the future if required, enabling us to respond to changing housing needs over time."
Cardiff Council has committed to become a carbon neutral city by 2030 through its 'One Planet Cardiff' strategy, so sustainability and circularity were critical considerations from the outset. A whole life carbon assessment, conducted by construction industry analyst Cercula, calculated that the housing development at Ferry Road would save 8,880 tonnes of carbon – with 85% less whole life carbon (33 tonnes vs 218 tonnes per home) compared to a traditional build – equivalent to 20,640 barrels of oil.
Ron Beattie, Founder and Managing Director of Beattie Passive, said: "As fuel costs soar and climate concerns intensify, we must urgently address the issues of energy efficiency and carbon in construction.
"The project at Ferry Road ticks all the boxes for a contemporary social housing scheme and then goes further still to achieve Passivhaus Plus standards of energy efficiency, comfort and carbon-saving."
Passivhaus has many benefits - the most obvious being lower heating bills. However, when people actually live in a Passivhaus environment they learn to appreciate the health and wellbeing benefits just as much as the energy efficiency. Passivhaus provides a comfortable living environment throughout the year, with consistent ambient temperatures, warm surfaces and no draughts. The properties remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter. An efficient and inexpensive Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) system pumps in filtered fresh air, while simultaneously removing airborne particles and allergens. The high level of insulation retains heat and also has a noise dampening effect that is far superior to current Building Regulations.
Occupants may not be accustomed to living in such a warm, healthy and welcoming environment, and the social benefits will be absolutely enormous. With this scheme, Cardiff Council is providing homeless families with an exceptionally high standard of accommodation that will, in turn, lead to a better quality of life with improved expected outcomes.
A time lapse video can be viewed here - https://youtu.be/7OPCnbm7I-Q
An aerial view of the site can be viewed here - https://youtu.be/_tirnQLLxjA
