Plot 256, one of four test plots at Barton Quarter, Lancashire, has become a beacon of innovation and a practical example of how sustainable construction can be both efficient and effective. This plot serves as a live experiment and training ground for trade and technologies.
Experts from MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery) specialist Zehnder Climate Systems, MiTek and Bellway Homes have taken principles tested at The Future Home @ Energy House 2.0 at the University of Salford and implemented these into Plot 256 to see how MVHR can be installed in a house type to go above and beyond Future Homes Standard requirements that are due to become statutory in 2025.
David Arkley, Architectural Technician at Bellway Homes, highlighted the importance of this endeavour: “We know the technologies work; it’s about how we integrate them. How does the air source heat pump work with underfloor heating? But more importantly how does the plumber install these systems seamlessly? These are the challenges we’re solving at Barton Quarter.”
The EPC rating has been elevated from B to A, and the SAP score has improved from 90 to 97, marking a substantial step towards energy-efficient living.
Arkley says one of the biggest challenges the team faced was space in the house. “How do you integrate MVHR and services into a regular sized house, 1,200 square feet? Using Posi-Joist meant we could route approx. 100 metres of 90mm ducting as well as the services through the open web joists. It wouldn’t have been possible otherwise and saved the trades a good couple of days during the build.”
Digital 3D software-enabled design and collaboration have been used at an unprecedented depth, says MiTek’s Design Engagement Director, Jimmy Close: “Multiple designs were integrated, and a federated 3D model created, eliminating the potential for issues during construction. The off-site construction elements to the build had a profound impact on the efficiency of the design process, and then construction on-site.”
Lessons learnt here will be applied to entire developments. As these innovations are scaled up across hundreds of homes, CO2 savings will represent a major, tangible step towards a Net Zero industry. Close adds: “Bellway Homes has a design blueprint for the future that will see houses built more efficiently, predictably, and of better quality for homeowners.”
