Beattie passive homes in Bearley: 2022
Seven affordable, low energy homes, a mix of houses, bungalows and maisonettes, completed in the village of Bearley in August 2022.
Homes for local people
Built in partnership with Orbit, J Harper and New Meaning, the homes were the realisation of a 20-year dream for the village. They were available for social rent and only offered to people with a connection to the village, enabling local people to stay in, or return to, Bearley.
The need for these affordable homes was identified back in 2001 in the village’s first plan. The plan found that “the majority of the village would like it to develop as a family community with affordable housing to keep the younger generation in the village”.
Low environmental impact
The homes were built using the Beattie Passivhaus system - an advanced low energy construction standard. With a simple timber framework, sandwiching high performance insulation, this system uses considerably less carbon dioxide than standard masonry construction. The windows are triple glazed and, in combination with the insulated superstructure, make the homes completely draught free.
Excellent thermal efficiency and airtightness means these homes will lose significantly less heat than traditionally constructed homes and retain heat better, lowering the heat demand and energy bills. The EPC certificates estimate that the houses and bungalows will have NEGATIVE primary energy use, ranging from -9 kWh/m2 to -37kWh/m2!
Low running costs
Each super-insulated home has solar panels and an air source hot water and heating system, keeping energy bills low. There’s also the added benefits of improved air quality and a very quiet indoor environment. Vehicle charging points are also included to allow residents to charge electrical vehicles in the future.
What does this mean for our residents? The EPC certificates estimate that energy bills will be under £500 a year for the 3-bed house!
One new resident told us:
“The financial benefits are immense. Our energy bills are down over 75% compared to what we paid last year. And the house heats itself, we’ve hardly put the heating on, it retains heat so well.
And another said:
“My energy costs are down, and I have money left over at the end of the month which I didn’t have before I moved here. I’m happy and my family are happy that I’m living in such a lovely home.”
Each super-insulated home has solar panels and an air source hot water and heating system, keeping energy bills low. There’s also the added benefits of improved air quality and a very quiet indoor environment. Vehicle charging points are also included to allow residents to charge electrical vehicles in the future.
WRHA built on the success of our first affordable Passivhaus development in Wootton Wawen, Warwickshire. Residents moved in to their new homes in 2018 and are reaping the benefits of significantly reduced energy bills.
Working with social enterprise New Meaning
WRHA were proud to be working with New Meaning, a social enterprise education provision, on this development. New Meaning provide training and support for students who left school with few to no qualifications and have helped over 138 young people start a career in construction. The team managed the construction of the superstructures.