Passivhaus Homes in Drymen Approved

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park has approved Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association’s application for the development of 15 affordable homes at Conic Way and Montrose Way in Drymen. Designed by ECD Architects, the new development replaces the existing homes with homes designed to the Passivhaus standard. These consist of a mixture of terraced bungalows providing amenity housing for returning residents and 2-storey semi-detached residences provided as general needs housing.

One of the key features of the design is the optimal solar orientation of the units; the two-storey detached properties have been designed with their entrance doors to the side, enabling a standard plan to be used which in all instances places living areas within the building south façade to maximise the solar gain benefits. The new development has a step in-and-out form in keeping with the uneven line of the street, and the row of terraces reflects the former properties to ensure the character of the street is maintained as well as offer a sense of familiarity to returning residents.

The new development provides level access to front and rear of each home through the re-grading of the site levels. Shrubs and small trees enhance the character of the streetscape and create defensible space between the streets and the houses; and a strip of wildflower meadow grass has been provided to enhance biodiversity, and enhance the spatial quality and visual aesthetic of the area.

Jennifer Rooney, the Project Architect highlighted: ““By adopting the Passivhaus standard we are ensuring that we are protecting residents from rising fuel costs. In particular, it’s great to know that the amenity houses will be offered up to returning residents who previously lived at this address. These residents will be returning to a brand-new house, designed specifically as amenity housing, and with very low energy bills yet excellent levels of thermal comfort. Essentially, being Passivhaus means that these homes are wrapped well with insulation, they are draught-free, benefit from useful solar gains and provide excellent indoor air quality by providing mechanical ventilation with heat recovery when it’s too cold outside to open the windows for fresh air. We are delighted that Hanover Housing Association have gone for Passivhaus at Drymen. To deliver small units like these in the West of Scotland to Passivhaus standards and do to so affordably has been challenging, but Hanover made a conscious decision to set the standard high here.”