Not-for-profit provider Housing 21 has completed work in Doncaster on England’s largest net zero volumetric retirement living scheme.
Built offsite in Hull by modular building specialist M-AR, the Patent House and Patent Walk scheme adopts Housing 21’s ‘low carbon specification’ to meet the Future Homes Standard and 2050 net zero targets.
It is the third modular project delivered for Housing 21 by M-AR. Supported with funding from Doncaster Council and Homes England, the scheme will enable people aged 55 and over to live independently within a community setting.
Comprising a total of 64 volumetric modules to provide a total of 20 homes, the scheme includes eight two-bedroom bungalows, as well as a three-storey building featuring twelve one- and two-bedroom apartments – all available for social rent.
M-AR ensured that any waste generated on the production line was either recycled or reused. The module frames are fabricated from volumetric lightweight steel, which can be easily recycled at the end of the building’s life.
Tony Tench, deputy chief executive at Housing 21, said: “This has been an incredibly exciting project for us to deliver. We had a very clear objective for developing this scheme. Not only did we want to provide an entirely affordable retirement living complex, but we wanted to ensure it could achieve net zero in terms of operational carbon so that we can keep energy costs as low as possible for our future residents.
“While we look forward to welcoming our new residents, we are already looking ahead and have put in place a year-long programme to accurately monitor the energy use of these new homes. This will be reviewed alongside another traditionally built scheme, so we can capture data that will further shape net zero homes of the future.”
