With summer temperatures in London reaching a record 40.2°C in July 2022 and are predicted to equal or exceed this regularly in the near future, Barratt London’s Lo-E Homes will be climate resilient and account for future heatwave conditions. Created by a team of experts, including Passivhaus designers and building physicists Beyond Carbon, the Lo-E Homes will optimise high density, sustainable housing in the capital and exceed current building regulations.
Craig Carson, Managing Director at Barratt West London, comments: “Our Lo-E Homes concept is an opportunity to think differently and deliver a new approach to high-density, sustainable housing in London. This is a significant milestone for the business, as we look to the future and consider the unique challenges faced in the capital, such as more heatwave conditions every few years. Feedback from local councils and the GLA has been supportive, so we look forward to securing planning approval and moving ahead with our first homes, before rolling out on all future London schemes, subject to relevant approvals.
Craig continues: “I am particularly pleased that we are planning to unveil the first Lo-E Homes across two significant partnership sites – High Barnet and Bollo Lane, as part of the West London Partnership we have with Places for London. Partnership working is vital in addressing London’s acute housing crisis, and through collaboration and a shared vision, we can achieve greater outcomes for our residents and the surrounding communities.”
Key components in the design include carefully engineered facades that limit heat from solar gain; triple-glazed Passivhaus windows to offer a new level of thermal comfort, and climate resilient air tempering to fully filter air and improve air quality.
Crucially for consumers, Lo-E Homes will offer significant savings in running costs and greatly improved winter health and comfort, alongside using less energy and producing lower carbon emissions. A typical resident is predicted to save around two thirds on their heating bills compared to today’s district heating system that relies on energy from a central source. This is around a 75% reduction in heating energy, and as much as 90% saving in carbon emissions. As Passivhaus standard homes use less energy overall, this limits the impact of future energy price changes on residents.
Attzaz Rashid, Head of Design at Barratt London and the lead for the Lo-E Homes initiative, comments: “Our ambition with Lo-E Homes is to deliver homes that don’t just meet standards but meaningfully surpass them. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to innovation in housing and climate resilience. Lo-E Homes represent a new benchmark in high-density design, fusing functionality, sustainability, and comfort at scale.”
Barratt London is proud to be part of Barratt Redrow PLC, the country’s leading national sustainable housebuilder. It is the highest ranked national housebuilder on influential industry benchmarks such as NextGeneration and CDP, and was the first national housebuilder to implement science-based targets on carbon emissions. Its work with the University of Salford on Energy House leads the industry in researching how to build homes fit for future climates, while chief executive David Thomas both chairs the Future Homes Hub and sits on the government’s Net Zero Council.
Dr Joel Callow, Founding Director at Beyond Carbon, comments: “The Lo-E Homes concept by Barratt London is far ahead of the curve: a genuine exemplar, which exceeds both current and future legislation, ensuring the homes are futureproofed long before the first spade is in the ground. There is currently no firm commitment from any other volume housebuilders, that we are aware, to deliver certified Passivhaus at this scale.”
Joel continues: “Barratt London is pushing the sustainability envelope as a genuine leader, paving the way for volume housebuilders to address future housing needs and demonstrating innovation in the sector. London is fast becoming a hub of Passivhaus excellence, with Lo-E Homes playing a significant role. In simple terms, thanks to the gold-standard Passivhaus specification, they are as good as it gets.”
Jonathan Cornelius, Head of Property Development at Places for London said: “We are proud to be developing homes through the West London Partnership at both High Barnet and Bollo Lane which are Passivhaus certified. Sustainability is at the heart of what we do and we are passionate about delivering the homes London urgently needs while playing our part in taking action against the climate crisis.
High Barnet will be delivered through the West London Partnership, a £1.9bn collaboration between Barratt London and Places for London that will see more than 4,000 new homes built over the next 10 years. The new site at High Barnet station will deliver approximately 300 new homes alongside small-scale commercial uses, with a target to deliver 40% affordable homes.
The second phase of Bollo Lane, a development also being delivered through the West London Partnership, will see 455 Passivhaus certified homes delivered. The entire 900-home development near Acton Town Tube station will feature new green spaces as well as improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities and new commercial opportunities for local businesses.