Barratt Commits to Making Every London Development Meet Passivhaus Standards

Image Credit: Barratt London

Barratt London is making a bold move: all its future developments will now follow Passivhaus design principles. The goal is to slash residents' energy bills while keeping homes cool even as London faces increasingly frequent heatwaves.

Barratt London teamed up with Passivhaus designers, building physicists, and other experts to craft this strategy, creating the ‘Lo-E’ approach. This isn’t just another buzzword — it’s about embracing a global building standard that demands top-tier energy efficiency and comfort. Passivhaus buildings harness natural heating, cooling, and lighting, drastically reducing reliance on artificial energy.

Barratt London’s Lo-E homes are set to meet the gold standard of Passivhaus certification, ensuring sustainability and superior living conditions. Given that London shattered temperature records in July 2022, surpassing 40°C for the first time, the company sees this design as a crucial step toward climate resilience and resident well-being.

What’s more, heating bills could take a serious hit, down by around 75% compared to typical London flats hooked up to district heating. For the average resident, that means saving roughly two-thirds on yearly heating costs.

How do they do it? Key elements of the Lo-E design include facades engineered to block excess solar heat, triple-glazed windows, and low-carbon air tempering systems. Decentralized energy solutions like exhaust air heat pumps also play a central role in boosting efficiency and reducing emissions.

Barratt London is kicking off with plans for 728 Lo-E homes across two upcoming sites: High Barnet and Acton. Both projects come through a partnership with Transport for London’s property arm, Places for London.

At Bollo Lane, Acton, 455 of the 900 planned homes will be Passivhaus-certified Lo-E homes conveniently near Acton Town Tube station. Half the homes in each development phase will be affordable, reflecting a balanced approach to sustainability and community needs.

Meanwhile, near High Barnet Tube station, around 300 new homes plus several small commercial units are on the table, with 40% designated affordable. Over the next decade, Barratt London and Places for London aim to deliver more than 4,000 new homes in this area, backed by a £1.9 billion investment.

This initiative aligns with the Labour-led UK Government’s broader ambition: 1.5 million new homes this Parliament. However, policymakers face mounting pressure to ensure these homes aren’t just numerous but also climate-resilient and built without further harm to nature.

Barratt London’s Lo-E approach represents a timely example of how developers can respond to these challenges head-on, offering energy-efficient homes built for the future’s climate realities.