Passivhaus developments in Scotland

There are some exciting Passivhaus developments bubbling in Scotland. Glasgow City Council has identified that Passivhaus addresses several of its priorities including fuel poverty, quality housing & climate targets.

£272,380 of Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funding has been awarded for a new Passivhaus social housing initiative, Passivhoos™, conceived by PHT members John Gilbert Architects & Stewart and Shields, along with Design Engineering Workshop, and the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU) at The Glasgow School of Art.

Last November at the 2018 UK Passivhaus Conference we heard Glasgow City Council representative Michelle Mundie give us a snapshot of some exciting schemes at various stages of development. Glasgow is not the only area to have taken energy-efficient buildings onboard. Further afield in Scotland there are several other schemes in the pipeline. Below we outline a few:

Springfield Cross, Dalmarnock

West of Scotland Housing Association Ltd aims to deliver 36 Passivhaus new build homes in Glasgow. The site, which is located next to Dalmarnock Train Station, will include a mix of mid-market rent and social rented homes ranging from 1 to 5 bedrooms. Work on the 36 Passivhaus units is backed by £5.5M of funding and expected to begin on site in spring 2019. The energy efficient homes will be in a car free development with an enhanced communal landscaped garden area aiming to provide comfort & financial benefits to tenants.

36 units aiming for Passivhaus
Tender

Edgar Road, Westruther, Scottish Borders

13 houses in a small rural community, for Eildon Housing Association to be let on an affordable rent basis form part of the Passivhoos joint venture between PHT members John Gilbert Architects and Stewart and Shields. The homes will be certified Passivhaus together with HFVN and Secured by Design. The design aims to create modern family homes whilst creating a new edge to the village.

13 units aiming for Passivhaus
Planning submitted.

Craigbank Nitshill, Glasgow

A large regeneration project currently under construction with £27m of funding to deliver approximately 170 much needed social/ affordable homes. Sanctuary Homes are prototyping 10 units to exemplar energy standards, targeting Passivhaus or Glasgow Sustainability Gold, Silver & Bronze. Local apprenticeships are helping to train & upskill people in the area.

2 units aiming for Passivhaus
Construction

Garelochhead Passivhaus, Argyll & Bute

A contract to build the new homes has been won by PHT member Stewart and Shields with tri-partite funding from the Scottish Government, ACHA and Argyll and Bute Council of £1.8 million. The project has started on-site in February 2019 with completion due in March 2021.

10 units aiming for Passivhaus
Construction

Carntyne Church, Shettleston, Glasgow

Designed by Page\Park architects and initially designed to meet building regulations, Stewart and Shields contractors won the tender for this work. Working with John Gilbert Architects, the design of the new, 5 storey extension was developed to target the Passivhaus standard. This timber / steel hybrid structure has been implemented on site with a high degree of collaboration between design teams, and once complete, may become Scotland's tallest Passivhaus. Completion is due Spring 2019.

5 (of 19) units aiming for Passivhaus
Construction

Hamilton Passivhaus, South Lanarkshire

3 new build detached homes designed by PHT member Paper Igloo, are arranged around a central roundabout containing planting and a shared SUDS scheme. The site borders the edge of Chatelherault Country Park, and features a beautiful rural outlook to the south. The development is also designed to meet the Gold level in Section 7 'Sustainability' of the Technical Standards, with enhanced daylighting, acoustics, and water saving measures. The houses are orientated with the garden elevation facing as close to due south as possible in order to maximise natural solar gains, and benefit from the views.

3 units aiming for Passivhaus
Construction

Closeburn Passivhaus, Dumfriesshire

Closeburn Passivhaus ©John Gilbert Architects

Nith Valley LEAF Trust (NVLT) are currently working with DGSCHT to develop 3 environmentally friendly, Passivhaus homes. The community owned low-cost family sized homes are to be let on an affordable rent basis in Closeburn - a small rural community, part of the Passivhoos joint venture between John Gilbert Architects and Stewart and Shields for the local development trust. Due onsite Spring 2019.

3 units aiming for Passivhaus
Planning won.

Springfield Terrace, St Boswells, Scottish Borders

Three new houses in a small rural community, for Eildon Housing Association to be let on an affordable rent basis. Built on a brownfield site in the Scottish Borders, the homes will be certified Passivhaus together with HFVN and Secured by Design and forms part of the Passivhoos joint venture between John Gilbert Architects and Stewart and Shields. The design is carefully inserted into a conservation area and respects the surrounding character and design. Due onsite Spring 2019.

3 units aiming for Passivhaus
Planning won.

Hear more about Passivhaus new build and retrofit case studies at the Sustainability Summit at Scotland Build 2019. We are also working on providing some Passivhaus contractor training in Scotland, which we hope will be available later this year.