Barratt launches record passive house scheme

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The developer will submit plans for an initial 728 homes at its upcoming High Barnet and Acton's Bollo Lane developments, delivered in partnership with Places for London, believed to be one of the biggest rollouts of passive houses in the country.

With summer temperatures in London reaching a record 40.2C in July 2022 and predicted to equal or exceed this regularly in the near future, Barratt London says its ‘Lo-E’ homes will be climate resilient, accounting for future heatwave conditions. Created by a team of experts, including passive house designers and building physicists Beyond Carbon, the ‘Lo-E’ homes seek to optimise high density, sustainable housing in the capital and exceed current building regulations. "Our ‘Lo-E’ homes concept is an opportunity to think differently and deliver a new approach to high-density, sustainable housing in London," said Craig Carson, managing director at Barratt West London.

"This is a significant milestone for the business, as we look to the future and consider the unique challenges faced in the capital, such as more heatwave conditions every few years." Key components in the design include carefully engineered facades that limit heat from solar gain, triple glazed passive house windows to offer a new level of thermal comfort, and climate resilient air tempering to fully filter air and improve air quality.

Crucially for consumers, Lo-E homes will offer significant savings in running costs and greatly improved winter health and comfort, alongside using less energy and producing lower carbon emissions. A typical resident is predicted to save around two-thirds on their heating bills compared to today's district heating system, representing a 75 per cent reduction in heating energy and as much as 90 per cent saving in carbon emissions.

High Barnet will be delivered through the West London Partnership, a £1.9bn collaboration between Barratt London and Places for London that will see more than 4,000 new homes built over the next 10 years. The site will deliver approximately three hundred new homes alongside small-scale commercial uses, with a target to deliver 40 per cent affordable homes.

The second phase of Bollo Lane will see 455 passive house certified homes delivered as part of the entire 900-home development near Acton Town Tube station.