Work beginning on Passivhaus housing in Midlothian

A COMMITMENT by a Scots local authority to ensure that all its new-build housing conforms to the energy efficiency standard, Passivhaus, is taking its next step, with construction beginning on 20 properties on the high street of one of its towns.

The Midlothian town of Bonnyrigg is the location of the development: with eight of the properties designed for ‘assisted living’ and the remaining 12 earmarked for people aged over 55.

Says Midlothian Council, here: “Work is underway to build 20 new Midlothian Council homes in Bonnyrigg as part of the most ambitious Passivhaus programme in Scotland. The flats are among 182 homes the council will deliver built to the exacting, energy-efficient Passivhaus standard.”

The Passivhaus target applies only to housing being developed by the local authority, not all housing in the area. The houses are also being hailed as ‘affordable’.

The council announcement continues: “Achieving Passivhaus certification, the homes will offer tenants bright and spacious living spaces paired with more affordable running costs. A series of measures are being incorporated to help reduce energy consumption levels, including the new homes being fitted with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) units to provide a constant flow of fresh air, whilst also helping to retain energy that has already been used in heating the apartments.”

The housing is being built by Cruden Housing, to a design by AHR architecture practice.

Pictured, left-to-right: Richard Crowther, commercial director at Cruden Building Scotland; Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Stuart McKenzie; and project manager, Scott Walker, Picture credit: Midlothian Council

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