Delivering sustainable homes at scale is one of the biggest challenges, and biggest opportunities, facing developers today.
Get it right, and we can deliver ultra-low-energy homes that are better for the environment, resilient against climate change, cheaper to run, more comfortable and healthier to live in. Get it wrong, and we’ll be looking back in decades to come wishing we’d acted sooner.
The Government has recognised the importance of progress in this area with the launch of the Warm Homes Plan. Ultimately, though, it will come down to developers to lead the way in creating more sustainable homes.
But achieving high performance at scale isn’t easy, particularly when the sky-high costs of development are narrowing options and, too often, crowding out investment in innovation.
A vital route forward lies in adopting the principles of Passivhaus: the most rigorous, globally recognised benchmark for ultra-low-energy buildings. It’s an approach that can help to create great places to live, ensure new developments meet forthcoming Future Homes Standard requirements, and support the Government’s target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Airtightness is one key component of the Passivhaus approach, and it’s one we’re rigorously exploring at our West London Royal Gateway development in Acton. Our trials at the development will allow us to understand how we can reduce heat loss, improve comfort and prevent moisture damage. By gathering energy data on building performance, we can refine our approach and strengthen the foundations required up front to deliver our future Lo‑E homes for Londoners.
For us, airtightness is the most reliable route to long-term energy efficiency. It means we can design buildings that require so little heat input that traditional heating systems are no longer required in new build homes across London.
For consumers, this means significant savings in running costs. A typical resident in a Passivhaus home is predicted to save around two thirds on their heating bills compared to today’s district heating system, which relies on energy from a central source. This is around a 75% reduction in heating energy, and as much as a 90% saving in carbon emissions.
Innovation in heating supply is another key Passivhaus principle. Across our developments, we are incorporating smart heat exchange systems that capture warm air from the environment to heat water, generating cool air as a byproduct. Once the system reaches the desired temperature, it self-regulates, creating a closed-loop cycle that minimises waste and maximises efficiency.
Then there’s the harnessing of new digital technologies – and recognising the vital role that AI will play in the long-term future of smarter homes. Its potential to automatically adjust heating, ventilation and lighting based on occupancy and usage patterns is immense. In the future, AI could have the potential to run these systems for residents, providing seamless comfort while optimising energy use in the home.
This level of innovation is only possible through strong, trusted partnerships across supply chains. As new technologies and systems enter the market, security of supply and shared learning become vital. We are positioning ourselves alongside forward-thinking suppliers to ensure that innovation is scalable, reliable, easy to use for consumers and ready to deliver at volume.
And innovation is not just about technology. It’s about our people. That’s why we are investing in training and upskilling across our design, engineering and construction site teams to make sure our workforce is well equipped to deliver Lo‑E homes.
Going above and beyond business as usual to embrace Passivhaus principles can help secure the energy-efficient homes at high density that we need in the capital.
To make them a reality means upskilling our workforce, innovating, improving supply chains and rethinking the way we design and deliver housing from the ground up.
Our forthcoming Passivhaus-accredited schemes at Bollo Lane and High Barnet, developed in partnership with Places for London, will bring these innovations to life.
These initial schemes will demonstrate how Passivhaus can be delivered at scale, setting a benchmark for the wider industry. By unlocking innovation across the sector, we can accelerate the shift towards a smarter, more sustainable future for decades to come.