Regeneration at Rayne Park
The first 40 homes of a projected 112 at the Rayne Park development at Three Score, Bowthorpe in Norwich, have received Passivhaus certification. Families have already moved into some homes, and on a sunny day in September, children were out playing in the protected and pedestrian-friendly streets between terraces.
Other homes are now available for sale and rent, with more yet to come. The phased development began in 2017, and is undertaken by Norwich Regeneration Ltd, a body set up by Norwich Council to meet the demand for new housing across the city. It will comprise 172 homes when complete, of which 112 are aiming for Passivhaus certification.
Completed homes shown on plan by Hamson Barron Smith
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Key Team |
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Client: |
Norwich Regeneration Ltd |
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Contractor: |
RG Carter |
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Architects: |
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Passivhaus Consultants: |
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Certifier: |
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Several PHT members are involved in tackling the challenges associated with the delivery of a large-scale Passivhaus project. PHT member Hamson Barron Smith, the architects, have already brought exemplary Passivhaus schemes to Norwich at Hansard Close and the Passivhaus Award-winning Carrowbreck Meadow - now they are scaling up for Rayne Park, their largest Passivhaus development so far.
They are assisted by PHT member Enhabit, whose Norwich team are providing Passivhaus consultancy, advice on technical solutions, training and on-site delivery, MVHR commissioning, as well as being appointed as Passivhaus Clerk of Works.
The construction process has benefited from the offsite fabrication of the structural insulated panels (SIPs) provided by Kingspan TEK and delivered by PHT member Kingspan Timber Solutions. The method means accurate production away from the vagaries of the weather, and swift and accurate erection on site. The airtightness of the system’s OSB/3 panels, fitted together with a proprietary jointing system, is augmented by the use of internal membranes and tape.
The homes are a mix of social and private housing, ranging in size from one to five bedrooms and made up of a mix of apartments and terraced houses. A total of 57 across the site will be affordable.
The playful variation of different brick colours with painted renders gives the two-storey terrace at the south of the site a jaunty air. Behind, the more sober brick terraces are decorated with laser-cut metal Juliet balconies, inspired by the local historical textile industry, following the design of the Norwich Drawloom Shawl (1840).
Once occupied, the homes will be monitored to evaluate how well they are performing. The scheme is one of five selected as a research subject for the BEIS-funded Building for 2050 study project, set up to explore how best to deliver low cost, low carbon housing for the future. The AECOM-led team will gather observations from the design and construction stages and analysis of the performance, as well as seeking views and feedback from residents and delivery teams – funders, developers, design teams and contractors.
All images © Passivhaus Trust unless otherwise stated
Further information
Previous PHT story: Norwich sets sights on UK Passivhaus capital - 28 May 2015
UKPHC17 - presentation by Hamson Barron Smith [PDF]
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