Agenda item

Purpose

1.    The Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness has asked the PCC Design Team to consider ways in which a formalised approach for building homes may be developed and applied to dwellings built for retention by the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) the report sets out the response to that request.

2.    The report presents a draft set of principles to be tested to understand the financial and technical impact of their application, through a pilot scheme for two council housing development.

3.    The pilot will allow the draft principles to be tested and evaluated prior to a further decision to consider the incorporation of the principles to social housing developments, where appropriate to do so.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member

1.    Notes the draft Low Energy and Social Housing Design Requirements.

2.    Approves the pilot to apply and test the attainment of the Passive House standard and the use of the Low Energy and Social Housing Design Requirement to two HRA council housing developments; Wecock Farm and Strouden Court.

3.    Requests a study evaluating the pilot to be brought back for decision to determine the application to further council housing developments.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness

1.    Noted the draft Low Energy and Social Housing Design Requirements.

2.    Approves the pilot to apply and test the attainment of the Passive House standard and the use of the Low Energy and Social Housing Design Requirement to two HRA council housing developments; Wecock Farm and Strouden Court.

3.    Requested a study evaluating the pilot to be brought back for decision to determine the application to further council housing developments.

Meredydd Hughes, Assistant Director of Buildings, presented the report, together with Andrew Waggott, Energy Services Team Manager, and Susan Whitehouse, Head of Design Service.

In response to a question from Maria Cole, officers explained that Passive House in its strictest sense is an exacting design requirement that aims to reduce the heating used in a property to 15 kilowatt hours of heating per m² per year. It means the property is extremely well-insulated and air tight with the air changes within it handled by mechanical ventilation. For example, an entire house might be heated by a heated towel rail in the bathroom. The property is usually triple-glazed and it is as if it is wrapped in an energy efficient blanket. The air quality is very good so it is a healthy environment for residents and also tackles fuel poverty.

In response to questions from Councillor Corkery, officers said that feedback and learning from the Design, Operational and Construction milestone phases of the Wecock Farm and Strouden Court schemes will inform future developments. If decisions need to be made on future developments they can be brought forward through the learning and evaluation of these two schemes. Officers plan the next 12 months on a rolling basis so have already factored in the Design phase in case there is another development before the Design phase of these two developments is reached. They are now moving into the next round of feasibility work and the initial work of the Design phase will inform next stages. Officers will engage with all stakeholders as the developments proceed.

In response to questions from Councillor Payter-Harris, officers explained the Additional Design Requirements are set out in Appendix B and include renewable energy on-site generation and low carbon heating systems. It would be interesting to see the difference in efficiencies gained from air source heat pumps and ground source systems and if they work better in different locations.

Officers agreed it is important to work from other local authorities who are using the Passive House standard as they can learn from each other. A working group, which includes Southampton and Hampshire, has been established to share best practice.

The more there are of this type of build, the more cost effective the design. Local authorities with more experience of Passive House, such as Exeter, say there is almost no difference in costs. Some savings can be generated by building homes with fewer working parts such as pumps but also by having a select list of contractors and who can deliver on a cost-effective basis, especially as they become more familiar with this type of build. Efficiencies can be shared by learning from the expertise of neighbouring local authorities. Councillor Payter-Harris thought it was not so much a question of a lack of skills to build these types of homes but more a matter of procurement.

With regard to a comparison between the initial financial appraisal and the final cost, feedback on costs will be part of the regular evaluation updates.

Members welcomed the report, noting that it was some of the council's most important, exciting and ground breaking work, particularly in view of the climate crisis. As it is a learning experience for all ongoing feedback is needed.

Summing up, Councillor Sanders noted that the Passive House technology may not work in all locations. However, he does not want to jeopardise social housing so there may have to be some compromises between design, green energy and affordable rents. He urged officers to work with residents so that they know how to use the technology in their energy efficient homes. He thanked officers for the report. 

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Preventing Homelessness

1.    Noted the draft Low Energy and Social Housing Design Requirements.

2.    Approves the pilot to apply and test the attainment of the Passive House standard and the use of the Low Energy and Social Housing Design Requirement to two HRA council housing developments; Wecock Farm and Strouden Court.

3.    Requested a study evaluating the pilot to be brought back for decision to determine the application to further council housing developments.