Low carbon homes at £6m passivhaus scheme slash heating bills for tenants

HEATING bills will be slashed by more than 80 per cent at a £6 million development of 21 low carbon homes in North Wales.

The properties at the Plas Penrhyn site in Penrhyn Bay in Conwy are being built to passivhaus standards thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between two housing associations, Adra and Cartrefi Conwy.

The timber frames and posi-joists for the affordable homes are being custom made for the Adra scheme by Creating Enterprise, a subsidiary of Cartrefi, at their factory in Rhyl.

The development was paused for a while when the original construction company, Brenig, went into voluntary liquidation but it’s now all systems go again after Beech Developments were appointed in their place.

Work has started on the site which will comprise a mix of social rent and intermediate rent properties of varying sizes, including a specially adapted of heating with very little

nd one-bedroom bungalow, energy required from the four two-bedroom grid – and no fossil fuels bungalows, eight twobeing used directly by bedroom houses and the properties. eight three-bedroom The green theme houses. continues outside where

The foundations for there will be electric the first phase are in vehicle chargers which place with the frames will be powered in part to be trucked onto the by the solar panels. site within weeks and Adrian Johnson, the project due to be Deputy Chief Executive completed in around 12 of Cartrefi Conwy, who months. heads up Creating

As well as being Enterprise, said: “We’re highly insulated and very proud to be working triple glazed, airtight in partnership with seals mean that heat Adra on this fantastic loss will be reduced so project and to be much that hardly any providing the timber heating is needed at all. frames and posi-joists

Any additional warmth to build these affordable, that’s required can then energy efficient and be provided by electric environmentally friendly heaters, often powered homes for local people. by photovoltaic solar “The beauty of the panels on the roofs. passivhaus modular

All of the homes will system is that it can be also have mechanical configured in different ventilation and heat ways – ranging from recovery systems fitted, a single storey oneextracting stale and bedroom bungalow to a moist air and blowing in two-storey family home. fresh air that’s warmed “This development by a heat exchanger unit. is tackling two different

According to Adra, the issues at the same time, properties are virtually reducing fuel poverty, self-sufficient in terms with a saving of more than 80 per cent on heating bills as compared to traditional homes, and providing much needed homes to address the desperate shortage of affordable housing.

“We are creating a virtuous circle because the profit we make is being recycled for the benefit of our communities.

“The other gain from this project is that the workforce and the supply chains are local so 80 per cent of the cost of the project is going back into the local economy. We’re using the Welsh pound in the best possible way”

Gethin Thomas, Adra Development Project Manager, will be helping to manage the development through to handover to the tenants.

He said: “This is the first passivhaus development for us at Adra, occupants will benefit from increased energy efficiency and reduced bills and we hope this will be the start of a future of similar developments.

“Our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint aligns with our mission to benefit our tenants and contribute positively to environmental sustainability.

“Engaging in projects of this nature is personally exhilarating, as it underscores the pivotal role of carbon emission reduction and heightened energy efficiency in the trajectory of housebuilding’s future.

“From my own point of view, it’s really exciting being involved in a project like this and look forward to seeing the progression on site.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Craig Kelly Jones, Contracts Manager for housebuilder Beech Developments.

He said: “The timber frames and posi-joists are a great product to work with. This is the way the industry is headed, using modern methods of construction. It’s what we get into the building industry to do.

“The air tightness rating for these houses will be 0.6 on a scale of nought to ten where nought is zero emissions and the average new build house comes in at five or six.

“There’s mechanical ventilation at the property with a turbine in the loft space to circulate air and prevent damp while making use of the heat from activities like cooking to keep the property comfortable and warm.

“Collaboration with Creating Enterprise and Adra has been very good and we’ve worked together very well.

“This is Adra’s first passive house development and the first for us working with Creative Enterprise and I hope it’s going to be the first of many.”