Esh Construction developing first net zero homes for Thirteen Group

10 properties at Kedward Avenue in Middlesbrough will be energy efficient and future-proofed for residents.

Esh Construction is helping raise the bar for sustainable living in Teesside as it develops 10 net-zero carbon homes for Thirteen Group.

Part of an £18 million development known as Kedward Avenue – one of three sites Esh is delivering for Thirteen in Middlesbrough – the new timber-framed homes will feature a raft of state-of-the-art technologies as the housing provider explores net-zero carbon opportunities in the region.

Four bungalows and six semi-detached two storey homes will benefit from enhanced insulation, triple-glazed windows, air source heat pumps and a mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) system. Photovoltaic solar panels, battery storage and electric vehicle charging points will also be installed externally.

To proclaim a property as net-zero carbon, homes must undergo rigorous energy performance standards testing, to meet a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) score of two or lower – a much higher requirement than the standard home requirement of 5 or under.

Mark Binns, Operations Director for Esh’s affordable housing division, said: “It is a landmark moment for Esh Construction and Thirteen Group to be providing the net zero offer. The project marks a significant step forward in sustainable construction and underlines a shared commitment to delivering future-proofed and energy efficient homes.

“These 10 properties won’t use gas, instead the MVHR system, and an air source hot water cylinder will be used to suck air into the properties, while photovoltaic solar panels and electric vehicle charging units will support the energy efficient home management plans.”

To prepare the properties for net-zero carbon status, challenges around architectural and design aspects had to be navigated, as well as educating the project team on key protocols.

While the remaining properties in the 105-home development will include standard 140mm insulation, the net zero properties include an additional 25mm of insulation bonded to the plasterboard to prevent cold bridging, while insulation depths beneath the concrete are enhanced from 100mm to 150mm. Door frame sizes had to be adapted to allow the MVHR units to be installed and wider pipework had to be catered for.

Joy Whinnerah, Thirteen’s Executive Director of Development and Partnerships, said: “We’ve made a firm commitment to becoming a net zero organisation by 2050 and we know we need to innovate and invest to achieve that.

“Use of this kind of technology in our homes can be a key part of our net zero roadmap. We’ll be monitoring the performance of these homes very closely so we can learn as much as possible about the effectiveness of the various net zero features and then apply that learning to future development.

“Alongside that, we will of course be working closely with our customers to help them get the most from those features.”

Mark added: “At Esh, we are on our own journey to become a more sustainable contractor and reduce our carbon emissions with a view to achieving net zero, therefore we are pleased to be supporting our clients with their own ambitions and targets on live schemes.”

To find out more about Esh Construction, visit www.eshgroup.co.uk