Exeter City Council: Passivhaus Champions
PHT Patron Exeter City Council has undertaken an array of pioneering Passivhaus projects over 12+ years and has a plans to deliver 1,000 Passivhaus homes over the next five years. Here we celebrate the pivotal role Exeter has played at championing the standard in the UK and look to the Council's ambitious future plans.
Back in 2008, I was looking to provide housing solutions in response to fuel poverty that was a very real issue for some within our city. Passivhaus buildings seemed the logical way to go – energy efficient, value for money over the longer terms and comfort for occupants. 12 years later, the success of this approach is apparent, with one of our residents regularly attesting to the fact she has never turned her heat on since she moved in.
Emma Osmundsen, Managing Director, Exeter City Living
Exeter was among the first local authorities in the country to build new council houses to Passivhaus standard: warm and healthy new homes which drastically reduced carbon emissions while helping to lift residents out of fuel poverty. The political leadership of the council embraced the benefits of Passivhaus despite the fact that it was still largely new and little used in the UK, and also necessitated a greater initial capital spend.
Jon-Paul Hedge, Director, Exeter City Council
Projects
Projects listed in chronlogical order.
Rowan HouseSocial housing flats for people aged 55+, situated within a conservation area. No. of units: 3 Project stage: Completed 2011 Standard: Passivhaus Classic Key team: Gale & Snowden (Architects & Passivhaus Designers) |
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Knights PlaceSocial housing flats for people aged 55+. No. of units: 18 Project stage: Completed 2012 Standard: Passivhaus Classic Key team: Gale & Snowden (Architects & Passivhaus Designers) |
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Silverberry Close, Barberry Close & Reed WalkSocial housing terraced family homes built in concrete blockwork walls, wrapped with external wall insulation and colourful render. No. of units: 20 across 3 sites Project stage: Completed 2015 Standard: Passivhaus Classic Key team: Gale & Snowden (Architects & Passivhaus Designers) |
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Chester Long CourtSocial housing flats, built from monolithic clay blocks. No. of units: 26 Project stage: Completed 2018 Standard: Passivhaus Classic Key team: Gale & Snowden (Architects & Passivhaus Designers), WARM (Passivhaus Certifier), CG Fry & Son (Contractor) |
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Hockings GreenSocial housing terraced family homes built in concrete blockwork walls, wrapped with external wall insulation and colourful render. No. of units: 9 Project stage: Completed 2020 Standard: Passivhaus Classic
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Ernest John MewsSocial housing terraced family homes built in concrete blockwork walls, wrapped with external wall insulation and colourful render. No. of units: 10 Project stage: Completed 2021 Standard: Passivhaus Classic
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St Sidwell’s PointThe UK’s first Passivhaus leisure centre & swimming pool. Project stage: Completed 2022, awaiting certification Standard: Passivhaus Classic Key team: Gale & Snowden (Passivhaus Designer & Building Envelope Architect), Space & Place (Lead Architect), Kier (Contractor). |
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Edwards Court (St Loyes) Extra CareAffordable self-contained apartments for older people, with extra care available if needed. No. of units: 53 Project stage: Completed 2022, awaiting certification Standard: Passivhaus Classic Key team: Architype (Architects & Passivhaus Designers) |
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Vaughan RoadMixed tenure including 60 affordable homes. No. of units: 92 Project stage: In development Standard: Passivhaus Classic
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Clifton HillMixed development of houses and apartments. No. of units: 42 Project stage: In development Standard: Passivhaus Classic
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Hamlin GardensNo. of units: 10 Project stage: In development Standard: Passivhaus Classic
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On St Sidwell's Point, the UK's first Passivhaus leisure centre:
Jon-Paul Hedge, Director, Exeter City Council |
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There are also other Passivhaus projects underway in Exeter, including the Clydesdale and Birks Residential project for Exeter University, which is to develop approximately 1,500 new student residences to the Passivhaus standard, and to refurbish a block of 290 existing residences to the Passivhaus EnerPHit standard.
Future Plans
Exeter's commitment to Passivhaus remains steadfast and unwavering. The council’s wholly-owned development company Exeter City Living now builds Passivhaus homes for the private sector, using the profits to help fund the council’s building programme. Exeter City Council and Exeter City Living have a pipeline to deliver 1,000 Passivhaus homes over the next five years. Watch this space!
Ultimately, what we build is to the benefit of communities and Passivhaus buildings epitomise people centred buildings. Forward-thinking councils and developers across Scotland, Wales and England are paving the way and utilising Passivhaus design to provide resilient and sustainable communities, and I am proud that Exeter City Council is one of them – we can all have a legacy that we can be proud of. Right now, there is an appetite for change, to create thriving communities that support people, the planet and that provide wise investment.
Emma Osmundsen, Managing Director, Exeter City Living
The 2022 UK Passivhaus Conference will be a hybrid event, with in-person events taking place in Exeter on 26 October 2022 giving participants the chance to visit and find out about many of these trailblazing schemes.
Further Information
UK Passivhaus Conference 2022 - Exeter & Online
Previous PHT story: Local Passivhaus Policies - 6 May 2022
Previous PHT story: The UK's first Passivhaus Leisure Centre makes a splash - 25 March 2022
Previous PHT story: 26 council homes certified at Chester Long Court - 25 September 2018
Previous PHT story: 53 Passivhaus homes given green light for Exeter's Extra Care scheme - 18 April 2016
Previous PHT story: Exeter City Council builds 20 Passivhaus homes - 14 August 2014
Why Exeter is a leading UK city for building design 26 January 2021
Exeter City Council: Exeter is a leading UK city for the building of Passivhaus homes 2 November 2021
Exeter City Council: How we created the UK’s first Passivhaus-standard leisure centre 6 January 2022
21st June 2022
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