February 7 2024

The site of a former Lancaster textile mill has provided 20 Passivhaus standard homes in a new development by John Gilbert Architects on behalf of Lune Valley Community Land Trust and South Lakes Housing.

Comprising a mix of terraced houses and cottage flats the £3.7m development in Halton offers energy-efficient properties for social rent and shared ownership. Two rows of houses face off across a traffic-free street in closer proximity than is normally permitted, to foster a tight-knit village atmosphere.

Other barriers to interaction such as fences have also been avoided, with brick planters used to demark each plot instead. Each home is finished in coloured render on board, brick and timber with unheated porches used to house mechanical ventilation heat recovery units.

Project director Matt Bridgestock said: “This is the first time the team has worked together, a partnership that has been a great success. Bringing together Passivhaus standard and social housing is a big step towards eliminating fuel poverty for residents and the car-free design has additional benefits for residents and the community.”

Electric vehicle charging and street lighting are powered by a hydroelectric power station on the River Lune.

3 Comments

#1 Posted by Roddy_ on 7 Feb 2024 at 19:25 PM

It looks a bit like Cumbernauld rendered in brick and timber.

#2 Posted by Craigbert on 8 Feb 2024 at 12:07 PM

Hopefully this will inspire similar developments to be less car-centric.

#3 Posted by The Heart of Saturday Night on 8 Feb 2024 at 13:20 PM

I mean, all good being Passivhaus etc but that design is a bit clumsy looking.

Particularly the daft wee bit of timber cladding below the first floor window in the second image.

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