Willohaus - Salford's Passivhaus boom continues

Following on from the successful Greenhaus project in Salford, a new 100-unit affordable Passivhaus development is nearing completion, delivered by the same project team.

Building on lessons learned from the nearby Greenhaus project, Willohaus is being constructed to a similar specification. Comprising 100 affordable 1 & 2 bed apartments in a five and six-storey building, Willohaus has now reached its highest point, officially topping out at 21 metres.

The project is part of the wider 240-acre Crescent Salford masterplan being delivered by the Crescent Partnership, made up of ECF (a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General and PHT member Muse), Salford City Council, and the University of Salford. Housing association Salix Homes is the housing partner for Willohaus, which is being delivered with support from PHT Patron Max Fordham and PHT Member Buttress Architects, PHT Member ZE Passivhaus is the appointed Passivhaus Certifier.

Key stats

Construction: Concrete frame, SFS infill, masonry outer leaf
Number of homes: 100
Form factor: 1.2
Build start date: 2024
Expected completion: 2026
Certification: Aiming for Passivhaus Classic

Willohaus,Salford. Image credit: Buttress Architects

A Passivhaus building is simply good business for Salix Homes and our customers; it directly supports our customers health and economic needs and is aligned with our key partner's carbon reduction and place making aspirations.

Sue Sutton, Chief Executive, Salix Homes

Designed to meet Passivhaus Classic certification, Willohaus is predicted to reduce energy bills by up to 90% compared to traditional housing. The future-proofed homes aim to close the ‘performance gap’ and provide resilience against overheating, with the quality assurance of the Passivhaus design standard offering a performance guarantee.

To help with adaptabilty and versatility in design Willohaus is being designed using peak heating load, instead of space heating demand, as its key energy metric. This helps when modelling in PHPP for when, for example, orientation is not optimal. The form factor for Willohaus is 1.2, compared with 1 on the Greenhaus project. The good low form factor on both projects has helped deliverability and cost-effectiveness.

Form factor diagram Greenhaus. Image credit: Max Fordham

Willohaus is the second Passivhaus development that ECF has brought forward with Salix Homes following the success of Greenhaus. Salix Homes secured grant funding for the development from Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), alongside its own investment. Willohaus is the first Passivhaus development to benefit from funding through the new ‘trailblazer’ devolution protocols, which have seen GMCA given greater powers and funding via the Affordable Homes Programme. ECF has recently submitted plans for a second Passivhaus community in Crescent Salford. 'Farmer Norton - Phase 1' will include 42 low-rise, three-bedroomed homes and will form the second phase of Adelphi Village. If plans are approved, work is due to commence in Summer 2025.

Clients' View

By incorporating innovative design and Passivhaus building practices, we aim to create places that not only meet the needs of the city but also contribute to a healthier environment. This commitment to sustainability reduces utility costs but also promotes responsible regeneration that has a lasting impact on the community, as well as helping Salford achieve its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2038.

Simon Hourihan, Project Director, ECF

Passivhaus is the gold standard for energy efficient buildings and construction, so we’re incredibly proud to be part of another ground-breaking development that will deliver desperately needed new and affordable homes in Salford which are better for the environment, support our carbon neutral ambitions, and help reduce fuel poverty for residents. Both Greenhaus and Willohaus represent a new era of newbuild, affordable, and eco-friendly homes that are fit-for-the-future and contribute towards the battle against climate change, while helping to tackle the housing crisis.

Liam Turner, Executive Director of Assets, Growth and Sustainability, Salix Homes

Construction

The construction method for Willohaus is the same as employed at the project team's previous Greenhaus project, and comprises a concrete frame primary structure, SFS infill, and masonry outer leaf. In a departure from the Greenhaus design, the Willohaus apartments feature Juliet balconies to improve residents’ connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Bike storage for up to 100 bikes will be incorporated to promote sustainable travel.

In designing Willohaus we have sought to apply the same rigorous building standards as we achieved on Greenhaus to bring forward attractive, affordable homes that balance energy efficiency and comfort.

Alison Haigh, Associate, Buttress Architects

Key team

Client: Muse/ ECF/ Salix Homes
Architect: Buttress Architects
Passivhaus Consultant: Max Fordham
Contractor: Eric Wright Construction
Passivhaus Certifier: ZE Passivhaus

Willohaus and its sister project Greenhaus both featured in the Large & Complex Passivhaus Masterclass series.2025. Access the on-demand recording here.