Ryedene Passivhaus

Basildon

New-build development providing nine affordable homes, designed to the Passivhaus Standard on underutilised public green space

Location: Ryedene, Basildon

Client: Basildon Borough Council

Status: RIBA Stage 3+

Specialisation: Passivhaus, Exhaust Air Heat Pumps, Photovoltaics, passive design, solar control, SUDs, EV charging points, Biodiversity strategy, aiming for Secured by Design - Gold

The development adjacent to Ryedene, provides much needed social housing to the area and provides the local community a requalified landscape that enhances the public realm to the benefit of the wider community. The development’s orientation creates frontage to Ryedene roadway with the green space maintaining the existing pedestrian connections, seamlessly integrating the building into the open space. Additional trees and soft landscaping also improve the landscape and form a protective buffer to the building curtilage. The internal layout has been designed to enhance winter solar gains, whilst preventing overheating in summer and complying with Part O of the Building Regulations. Each pitch maximises the opportunity for PV panels, providing the site with renewable energy sources that can contribute to each properties energy demand.

Structural Insulated Panels maximise the airtightness of the building, limit construction defects and reduce the delivery programme by using factory-made elements more accurate than on-site cut timber frames. Demand of heat, ventilation and domestic hot water is supplied by Exhaust Air Heat Pumps, with minimal addition of electric radiators, simplifying service layouts to allow for easy operation by the residents. The combination of these systems with the low energy demand of the building removes the need of gas provision and promotes the use of renewable energy.

These passive design features contribute to achieve Passivhaus standard, in addition to a ‘fabric first’ approach based on the specification of high levels of insulation, triple-glazed windows, and minimising thermal bridges in the construction.

Quote from Client:

“Basildon Council were extremely satisfied with how the ECD ran the project from inception through to completion of the Stage 3+ tender pack. In particular, we appreciated the support provided in relation to the requirements to achieve our objective of a highly sustainable scheme. As a client, the supplementary advice provided by ECD in the form of training sessions and regular catch up meetings was invaluable.”

– Bradley Tollon

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