Wakefield’s Marygate House has been acquired for residential development, with plans to add a new storey to the building and create 36 high-specification apartments for rent. The developers, IP Marygate House Ltd – a joint venture between Priestley Homes and DI Properties – purchased the site for £650k, with funding
The top ten UK housebuilder, Keepmoat Homes, is redeveloping two sites located in Leyland and Accrington, bringing much needed new homes to Lancashire, with a combined gross development value of £106.6m. The two schemes are a 520-plot development, Farington Mews, in Leyland with a total gross development value (GDV) of
Sustainability has been at the top of the building agenda for many years, with an emphasis on its environmental and economic impact. Such outcomes are of major importance, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that buildings are created for people, and their health and wellbeing should be of the highest priority
Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has once again been awarded the maximum five-star rating from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) following the annual prestigious customer satisfaction survey. The family-owned firm, with its headquarters in Torquay, is one of just 42 homebuilders nationwide to be awarded the top five-star rating after achieving
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (Honda) has announced it has entered into a contract for sale of its Swindon site. Originally purchased by the Japanese car manufacturer in 1985, the site will be sold to Panattoni, Europe’s largest developer of new build industrial and logistics facilities. In 2019, Honda Motor announced
Exciting progress has been made for the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone project. North Norfolk District Council is thrilled to announce the appointment of Influence, chartered landscape architects who will be undertaking the townscaping element of the project along with expert partners. The team aim to provide sustainable
Sustainability, digitisation and adopting exciting new technologies are key to building back from the coronavirus pandemic, according to presenters at this year’s Summit of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), hosted for the first time ever as a virtual event along with a digital prize-giving for the International Awards for
Haydn Mursell, the former CEO of Kier Group, has been appointed as chair of fast-growing Hull-based water mist fire suppression business iMist following a £4.5m investment by private equity firm Foresight Group in January 2021. Founded in 2015, iMist has developed its own range of high-pressure water mist fire suppression
Panattoni, the largest developer in Europe, has committed to speculatively develop 515,000 sq ft in Derby, at the heart of the UK’s major road and motorway network. The developer is advancing its building portfolio with construction beginning on the site this month for the Derby 515 warehouse. At 514,193 sq
Two members of design, engineering and project delivery company, BakerHicks’, Scottish architectural team, Michael Edgar and Katherine Gibson, have achieved certified Passive House designer status. This further extends the company’s expertise in sustainable and energy efficient construction. Both Michael and Katherine undertook the exam with the Passive House Institute, passing
Wakefield’s Marygate House has been acquired for residential development, with plans to add a new storey to the building and create 36 high-specification apartments for rent. The developers, IP Marygate House Ltd – a joint venture between Priestley Homes and DI Properties – purchased the site for £650k, with funding provided by Together Finance. Marygate House benefits from permitted development rights to convert the upper floors of the four-storey building into residential units. A planning application was submitted to Wakefield Council in March 2021 for the construction of an additional storey to maximise the site’s development potential. The 36 apartments will be retained solely for private rent, managed jointly by the Priestley Group and DI Properties. The £3 million refurbishment scheme will be a premier development in the city, helping to set a new standard of rented accommodation for local residents. All apartments will be finished to the highest standard, with luxury furnishings in an open plan living and dining area, including large windows, spacious bathrooms and up to 1GB fibre broadband. Existing ground-floor retail spaces will remain, and the developer is designing a new street scene, including upgraded shop fronts and canopies to improve kerb appeals and create a thriving mixed-use scheme in the heart of Wakefield city centre. Located on Marygate in Wakefield’s main shopping district, the 1970s commercial block is close to the town’s historic Civic Quarter, which is subject to major regeneration plans back by the council. Westgate rail station is a five-mute walk away, for easy commuting into Leeds. “As a Yorkshire-based business, we continue to see the huge potential in our smaller towns and cities, such as Wakefield. Wakefield is a city on the rise, driven by a council that is committed to bringing its ambitious regeneration plans to life. You only have to look at the scale of redevelopment in the Civic Quarter and the transformation of Rutland Mills into Tileyard North, an exciting, new creative hub on the waterfront,” said Nathan Priestley, chief executive officer of Priestley Homes. “The confidence in the city is peaking. We are thrilled the council approached us to give Marygate House the jolt it desperately needs. We are known for delivering these kinds of quality residential developments; this will help drive interest in urban living in the area, boost the local economy and support many of the city’s businesses for years to come.” Priestley Homes is a multi-award-winning developer renowned for high-quality refurbishment projects across the North of England and London, including Bradford’s Conditioning House – 153 luxury ‘New York-style’ apartments set in a meticulously restored Grade-II listed mill. IP Marygate House Ltd secured funding from UK-wide specialist lender, Together, to help purchase the site. A decision on the planning application is expected in Q3 2021. Priestley Construction will then begin work on a 12-month build programme in Q4 2021.
The top ten UK housebuilder, Keepmoat Homes, is redeveloping two sites located in Leyland and Accrington, bringing much needed new homes to Lancashire, with a combined gross development value of £106.6m. The two schemes are a 520-plot development, Farington Mews, in Leyland with a total gross development value (GDV) of £100m and a 48-plot development, Acorn View, in Accrington, with a total GDV of £6.6m. The two schemes, in partnership with Homes England, have secured planning approval from local authorities and will offer two-, three-, and four- bedroom detached and semi-detached homes, along with various purchasing options from open market sale to shared ownership and affordable housing. Homebuyers at the developments will also be able to benefit from the new Government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme, allowing first-time and current homeowners to obtain a 95% mortgage from lenders. This means they will only require a 5% deposit to purchase a new home. “We are very excited to have started work on both sites in Leyland and Accrington. As a company, we’re driven to creating better places for people to live, not only by building new quality homes, but by transforming the communities which we serve. We work to deliver real value through training and employment opportunities via the use of sub-contractors, work placements and apprenticeships, or supporting local schools, colleges and universities with educational talks and site visits,” said Gareth Roberts, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes. “Our sites aren’t your typical new homes developments but have been designed with the latest technologies for added convenience to homeowners. Acorn View will include car charging points for those with electric vehicles at each of the homes and plans have also been put in place to ensure that public open space remains at the heart of both developments. “We can see from our existing developments, across Lancashire in particular, that demand for new homes is increasing, and the team have been working hard to ensure we continue to deliver these much-needed new homes. The two sites form part of our ambitious growth strategy in the region, bringing the number of developments in Lancashire to four, and we have already identified more development opportunities in the area,” he concluded. The housebuilder announced that construction at Farington Mews is expected to take ten years, and two years at Acorn View, with the first homes going on sale in Spring/Summer 2021 and show homes being available to view late Summer.
Sustainability has been at the top of the building agenda for many years, with an emphasis on its environmental and economic impact. Such outcomes are of major importance, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that buildings are created for people, and their health and wellbeing should be of the highest priority when it comes to the interior design and workings of offices and other workplaces. Stacey Lucas, Commercial and Marketing Director at Sontay, a market-leader in the manufacture of sensors specifically developed to improve the indoor environment and create healthier, more energy-efficient buildings, looks at how smart sensor technology is being employed for beneficial effect in the places we inhabit most. Pre-pandemic we reportedly spent more than 90% of our lives indoors whether at home, school or in the workplace. Ventilation, temperature and pressure regulation contribute to maintaining an atmospheric happy medium, which in a work environment helps increase employee contentment, leading to increased productivity and fewer sick days. Building sensors installed as part of an efficient building management system, offer an ingeniously smart and effective way of remotely monitoring indoor conditions, as well as giving property owners more control over energy usage; a benefit that not only helps reduce heating and lighting costs, it facilitates a significant reduction in a building’s carbon footprint. Monitoring key criteria such as relative humidity, CO2 and air quality can also offer vital information on the likelihood of viral transmission in the indoor environment and instruct the BMS to increase ventilation to improve conditions. Their usage could therefore be a factor in driving environmental-initiatives, such as the UK government’s pledge for carbon-neutral status by 2050 as well as building confidence in us returning to office buildings in the future. Sensor solutions Sensors can control a myriad of elements that affect our indoor climate including temperature, which in relation to an office environment is found to be around 22°C. However, relative humidity, if not managed correctly can make a room feel hotter or colder than the actual temperature reading. It can increase the likelihood of bacterial spread at lower levels. A sensor can help overcome these issues by monitoring humidity levels, to ensure an ideal 50% reading is maintained. In terms of air quality, airborne volatile organic compounds (VOC), pollutants which are found in paints and other building materials, are known to have a detrimental effect. The same harmful chemicals are also present in hand sanitisers, aggressive cleaning products and detergents; the demand for which has been unprecedented since the onset of the coronavirus crisis. Air quality sensors are able to measure VOC levels and provide data for when ventilation is needed to maintain occupancy comfort, or the need to take action when a potentially hazardous reading is recorded. Crisis management The COVID-19 pandemic has also focused a lot of attention on the amount of indoor space people should be allowed to share in order to maintain distance and prevent viral spread. A CO2 sensor provides a clear visual indication of when a workplace requires ventilation due to deterioration in the indoor air quality. When we exhale we emit CO2, which if left unchecked in a busy office environment for example, can lead to headaches due to increased discomfort levels. A CO2 sensor with an LED traffic light-style display can help alleviate this issue. When showing green, for instance, the sensor is indicating that a room isn’t over-occupied and the risk to air quality is low. Should the sensor show amber, it’s a sign that windows require opening or fewer people need to be in the room to maintain the same healthy indoors environment. When the sensor turns red it is a call to action, as it indicates there is not enough ventilation in the room. At these last two stages, if a sensor is connected to a building management system, it will activate relevant ventilation. Light level and occupancy sensors offer further relevance to the ongoing pandemic. In relation to the nationwide lockdown, many offices in towns and cities remain empty whilst lights and other energy sources continue to burn unmonitored within the buildings themselves. An estimated 40% of a building’s energy costs are attributed to light usage; therefore, installing a sensor which operates lighting based on a building’s occupancy and interior light levels has financial and environmental benefits. Though relatively small in size, building sensors can have a huge part to play in ensuring properties, particularly workspaces, are managed safely, sustainably and profitably. Like a friend we never knew we had, these smart little devices look out for us when we’re in the office, and look out for the office when we’re at home. They are becoming evermore vital to the way we work today, and in the future.
Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes has once again been awarded the maximum five-star rating from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) following the annual prestigious customer satisfaction survey. The family-owned firm, with its headquarters in Torquay, is one of just 42 homebuilders nationwide to be awarded the top five-star rating after achieving over the 90 percent benchmark for recommendations from homebuyers. The annual customer satisfaction survey asks new-build homeowners across the country for their feedback on their homebuilder’s build quality, customer service, and whether they would recommend them to family or friends. Over 90 percent of Cavanna’s homeowners who completed the survey said they would recommend the firm as well as endorsing the build quality and the standard of finish. “We are thrilled to once again be recognised as a five-star homebuilder by the HBF. To achieve such a high degree of customer satisfaction, even during a challenging year, is fantastic and we are very grateful to our homebuyers and very proud of the result. Knowing that over 90 percent of homeowners would recommend us as a trusted builder is testament to our ongoing commitment to deliver the highest standards year on year,” said Kerry Hamer, Head of Customer Services at Cavanna Homes. The scores given by new homebuyers to their homebuilder are the highest in 15 years, since the HBF survey was first launched in 2006. They also show a fourth consecutive year of improved customer satisfaction. “The survey demonstrates that the industry is delivering an excellent level of service in the opinion of over 90% of its customers. The fact that we have seen four successive years of improved satisfaction levels shows the clear focus builders have been putting on the customer. That this level of satisfaction has been delivered during a pandemic that saw sites closed and builders unable to access homes for a period makes it even more of an achievement,” added Executive Chairman at the HBF, Stewart Baseley. “To achieve a five-star rating, meaning that at least 90% of your customers would recommend you, is a fantastic achievement that requires commitment from everyone within the organisation.” Last year Cavanna Homes also celebrated being crowned Housebuilder of the Year for the second year running in the national Housebuilder Awards 2020 in the 0-300 units category.
Honda of the UK Manufacturing (Honda) has announced it has entered into a contract for sale of its Swindon site. Originally purchased by the Japanese car manufacturer in 1985, the site will be sold to Panattoni, Europe’s largest developer of new build industrial and logistics facilities. In 2019, Honda Motor announced a restructuring of its global automobile manufacturing operations, which included the cessation of production at the UK plant in July 2021, at the end of the current model cycle of the Civic Hatchback. Following the closure announcement, Honda committed to leaving the site in a responsible way, with a sustainable legacy for Swindon. “We are pleased to have identified a capable new owner of the site. From our engagement with Panattoni and initial discussions with Swindon Borough Council, we are confident that the new owner can bring the development forward in a commercially timely fashion and generate exciting prospects for Swindon and the wider community,” said Jason Smith, Director at Honda of the UK Manufacturing. Following the end of production on 30 July 2021, Honda will immediately commence the decommissioning of the Swindon site. The site is anticipated to be legally handed over in Spring 2022, once the necessary consents have been obtained, and Panattoni will start regeneration and redevelopment shortly thereafter. James Watson, Development Director for Panattoni, said: “Panattoni is committing to invest over £700 million into the site to attract new employers and provide for existing businesses looking to expand in Swindon. We will be working very closely with Honda and Swindon Borough Council, along with the community and its representatives to regenerate the site.” Matthew Byrom, Managing Director of Panattoni in the UK, said: “The acquisition of the 370-acre Honda facility demonstrates our capabilities to work at scale. The re development of this strategic employment site will deliver thousands of new opportunities in roles which underpin the operation of the local and regional economy.” Susie Kemp, Chief Executive of Swindon Borough Council, said: “The new opportunities outlined by Panattoni will be a major step in Swindon’s rejuvenation following Honda’s exit. Their investment offers a significant boost to the local economy and we are excited by the prospect of this redevelopment creating thousands of jobs for Swindon and the surrounding area. We already have a strong working relationship with Panattoni following their recent development of the adjacent site, Symmetry Park, and look forward to working with them over the next year. We understand that Honda’s key aim was to identify a responsible new owner and I believe today’s announcement demonstrates that.” As part of its continued efforts to leave a positive legacy in the local community, Honda will assess opportunities for small sections at the edge of the site that are not required for Panattoni’s development to be utilised by the neighbouring communities. Panattoni will now commence all necessary planning work with Swindon Borough Council, with support from Honda.
Exciting progress has been made for the North Walsham High Street Heritage Action Zone project. North Norfolk District Council is thrilled to announce the appointment of Influence, chartered landscape architects who will be undertaking the townscaping element of the project along with expert partners. The team aim to provide sustainable solutions to urban planning and have extensive experience of working in conjunction with local authorities and communities to deliver landscaping and public realm services, including working on High Street Heritage Action Zones projects elsewhere in the UK. “High Street Heritage Action Zones are such a key part of the future for our towns – especially post the pandemic – and are often driven by a strong local community interest. Revitalising and regenerating our high streets whilst reinstating the heritage roots is critical to their success, now and in the future. North Walsham is a vibrant market town but has been waiting for a long time to bring forward a high street public realm project. Now that it’s here, myself and the Influence team are honoured to have been selected to work on this important project, and are pleased to be supporting North Norfolk District Council’s in-house team,” said Shona Hatton, associate director at Influence. “Our previous experience in delivering High Street Heritage Action Zones has given us specialist knowledge and understanding of the challenges and huge opportunities in our high streets -and we are using those assets to re-imagine the physical and social environment in North Walsham – to enable it to be a prosperous town where people want to live, work and relax.” Master planning and consultation will be led by HETA – a studio of architects, designers and thinkers. Their focus is on people and how to create better, more meaningful experiences for them. Having completed a site visit the team will implement a programme of consultation and community engagement to see how the people of North Walsham want to see the space in the town centre used. Other partners involved include Rees Bolter Architects as heritage consultants, BSP for highways and transport consultancy and Gleeds Cost Management, quantity surveyors. This work is a vital part of the programme’s wider “placemaking” objectives, inspiring people to re-imagine and re-engage with the town centre as the heart of the community. It will focus on making the town centre a destination which embraces its heritage and community, creating a shared space people can enjoy, take pride in and encourages others to visit. The Council and partners will seek to hear what residents, businesses and visitors want to see in North Walsham and foster a sense of community that maximises shared value by making it easier to move around the town centre and improve the appearance and quality of public spaces, starting with work which will see the improvement of the Lokes and alleyways that connect different areas within the town centre. As part of this, the Council intends to purchase a piece of land adjacent to Black Swan Loke, a long-standing derelict area on an important pedestrian approach to the town centre, and is exploring options to maximise the potential of this busy route.
Sustainability, digitisation and adopting exciting new technologies are key to building back from the coronavirus pandemic, according to presenters at this year’s Summit of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), hosted for the first time ever as a virtual event along with a digital prize-giving for the International Awards for Powered Access (IAPAs) on 18 March 2021. The theme of the IPAF Summit will consider the question of sustainability in powered access, the challenges of operating safely and effectively in the post-Covid-19 era, and the opportunities of digital and technological innovation for safer work at height. Suzannah Nichol, CEO of Build UK, said during her Summit-opening presentation: “How do we grow and build sustainable businesses? Pay suppliers on time, treat staff well, and invest in new technology. That’s what IPAF and Build UK have in common. We benchmark our members, and most now pay their suppliers within 30 days – while we’re not there yet, we have made great strides on this issue. “We also want to make our industry more efficient, reduce waste and increase productivity. Why have one form when you can have ten, seems to be our industry’s mantra at times, and so we are building a new prequalification framework, the Common Assessment Standard. We think this will save the industry up to £1 billion a year, not to mention reduce paperwork and free up key staff for other more productive tasks. “Last but by no means least we focus on people: Recruiting, training and retaining talent. Without the right people, we can’t operate. It is up to all of us to take our enthusiasm, passion and skills into schools to encourage young people into our industry. How we train people is really important and IPAF is definitely a leading light in that department. We need to provide more apprenticeship places and encourage young people into them. Finally, working flexibly has seen a major shift in the past year. “Everyone who has participated in this event has the power to do things differently, every one of us has a part to play in making our industry better, and we all need to ask ourselves what part will that be?” In answer to questions about the post-pandemic future, she added: “Construction work is holding up and the figures from February 2021 show we are back to pre-pandemic levels already, albeit a lot of that is catching up on the existing pipeline; we are keeping an eye on the pipeline for the future, and we need to do all we can to make sure that the UK is a great place to do business in future.” The presentations and discussions were interspersed by announcements of the category winners of the 2020-21 IAPAs, as well as video presentations from sponsors and a closing virtual delegate networking session. There was also a video about how IPAF member firms have supported clients, communities or charities in the pandemic. The event was hosted by Mark Durden Smith, a TV presenter in the UK. Thanks to the support of event sponsors, registration for the event was free and more than 1,000 participants from no fewer than 67 countries worldwide.
Haydn Mursell, the former CEO of Kier Group, has been appointed as chair of fast-growing Hull-based water mist fire suppression business iMist following a £4.5m investment by private equity firm Foresight Group in January 2021. Founded in 2015, iMist has developed its own range of high-pressure water mist fire suppression systems, specifically for domestic and larger residential properties. Its proprietary solution offers a number of benefits over traditional fire sprinkler and lower pressure water mist products including more efficient use of water, ease of installation and cost effectiveness. With over 30 years’ experience in the contracting, services and development sectors, Haydn further strengthens the iMist board. From roles early in his career as chief financial officer of Lendlease and deputy group finance director at Balfour Beatty, he went on to join Kier Group as finance director in 2010, becoming chief executive four years later, before leaving the company in 2019. Having operated at plc board level for over 10 years, Haydn has a broad range of financial and management skills. He is strategically minded, with a focus on growth and business performance, managing acquisitions and improving safety, customer experience and employee engagement. Haydn currently holds a number of non-executive and board adviser positions for complementary businesses within the construction industry. Haydn comments: “The need for innovative fire suppression systems which can be quickly, easily and cheaply installed in both new and existing buildings, is a major issue for the industry and iMist has a solution. The move from a sprinkler to a misting system is a natural evolution which gives the end-user a number of benefits, particularly in terms of being more environmentally-friendly as they significantly reduce the amount of water required. “IMist has a sound business model and good market conditions to accelerate its growth, along with the backing from Foresight Group to enable them to realise their vision. Managing director Tony Sims is supported by an extremely knowledgeable management team who have ensured that every relevant safety and quality accreditation has been achieved, and also established an impressive R&D capability. “I immediately like their down-to-earth, honest approach to running the business and felt that with my industry experience and large company background, I could really add value from advising on the best path for growth and overcoming some of the challenges that come with rapid expansion, to corporate governance and measuring business performance. IMist has huge potential both in the UK and internationally and I’m really pleased to be joining the team at such an exciting time.” Tony Sims, managing director of iMist, says: “Haydn has an impressive track record as an experienced CEO, CFO and board adviser, and brings a wealth of skills having worked for some of the best-known construction and infrastructure groups in the UK. Having held senior positions in residential development, civil engineering and building businesses, he really understands our clients and their operational dynamics. “Following our recent PE investment, iMist is now embarking on the next stage in its development and we believe that Haydn will have a pivotal role to play as we optimise the current regulatory opportunity in order to drive further growth and development activities across the UK. We also have ambitious international expansion plans, including targeting the US market later this year.”
Panattoni, the largest developer in Europe, has committed to speculatively develop 515,000 sq ft in Derby, at the heart of the UK’s major road and motorway network. The developer is advancing its building portfolio with construction beginning on the site this month for the Derby 515 warehouse. At 514,193 sq ft, it is set to be one of the largest single-unit speculative developments under construction in the country, ahead of the Panattoni Wakefield development of 512,850 sq ft. The building is part of Panattoni’s 900,000 sq ft development at Derby Commercial Park, on Raynesway, two miles east of the city. It is already home to the speculatively built Derby 370 unit, which has recently been let to Alloga UK on a 15-year lease term. Derby 515 is expected to complete Q4 2021, with the potential for circa 500 jobs to be created. The building will have 15m clear internal height, 56 dock doors and 8 level access doors, as well as parking for 185 trailers. It will be built to BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings. Panattoni has also announced a new design to their portfolio which enables the buildings to be split to accommodate two operations. Derby 515 has been designed with a flexible envelope to accommodate a cross-split option, allowing the building to be sub-divided down its length for two occupiers. The cross-split will form two self-contained units of 226,497 sq ft and 287,416 sq ft. Each would have 28 dock doors, 4 level access doors, a secure self-contained yard, a car park and own gatehouse. “The new warehouse will be built to our normal high specifications offering flexibility and energy cost savings to occupiers. This will be one of the largest single-unit spec builds in the country and will benefit from being in one of the UK’s centres for advanced manufacturing and logistics,” said Andy Preston, Development Manager for Panattoni Derby 515.
Two members of design, engineering and project delivery company, BakerHicks’, Scottish architectural team, Michael Edgar and Katherine Gibson, have achieved certified Passive House designer status. This further extends the company’s expertise in sustainable and energy efficient construction. Both Michael and Katherine undertook the exam with the Passive House Institute, passing an international written exam to achieve this status. The qualification gives them the in-depth knowledge and tools to design to the Passive House standard, helping the company’s clients reduce their ecological footprint through ultra-low energy buildings. Passive House buildings are truly energy efficient, comfortable and affordable, offering space related heating and cooling energy savings of up to 75% compared to the average new build. They require very little energy to achieve a comfortable temperature year-round, making conventional heating and air conditioning systems obsolete. Whilst it delivers superior levels of comfort, the Passive House standard also protects the building structure. It can be applied to all building types, from residential properties to schools and offices, and focuses specifically on ‘superinsulation’, airtight envelopes, high-performance window installation, minimal thermal bridging and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. This will make it a key element in the drive to halt global warming. Laura James, Head of Scotland at BakerHicks, says: “As a company, it is important for us to lead the way in setting sustainable practices. We recognise that governments, local authorities and our individual clients are all really driving the effort to construct more environmentally friendly buildings. And, with new net zero targets set out by the UK and Scottish Governments, this is becoming ever more prevalent. Passive House design will be one of the key ways we can help them achieve this. “We are already seeing a real appetite amongst our clients and are employing the principles on a number of projects, so it’s great to have that added in-house capability with certified designers. To design these buildings, you need an in-depth knowledge of the standard, so by supporting our architects and engineers through this qualification we are giving them the tools to do so. It also provides our clients with the confidence that we can deliver the level of sustainability they require.” Michael Edgar, Principal Architect at BakerHicks, added: “The holistic approach of Passive House necessitates earlier collaboration of design teams and a keener focus on the finest details to ensure all criteria are met. Ultimately, this delivers a project that is designed around sustainability from the very outset, making it a clear driver to achieving cleaner building design.” Katherine Gibson, Senior Architect at BakerHicks, says she is looking forward to applying the design principles to future projects: “The fabric-first approach of Passive House provides a clear framework to reducing harmful carbon levels and making buildings more energy efficient, ultimately creating more healthy spaces for occupants.” BakerHicks have committed to supporting others from across their design disciplines through the accreditation process, with four from their Mechanical and Electrical Engineering team registered to undertake the exam this year and more expected to follow suit in 2022. This follows their parent company, Morgan Sindall Group’s, recent announcement of their intention to achieve net zero by 2030.