Building Homes For A Zero Carbon Future
Given that the UK’s housing stock must achieve net zero carbon performance by 2050, it’s clear that ensuring new homes of all tenures meet low energy standards should be a priority.
Insisting on high standards of energy efficiency for new build housing not only avoids the cost of retrofit upgrades in the years ahead, it also means that homes will be cheap for occupants to heat from day 1.
Until recently, additional cost has been one of the main barriers to making new homes more energy efficient. But with the advent of modern construction methods these constraints no longer apply.
Energy Efficient Homes
Osborne’s mixed-tenure Rowstock Gardens development for Islington Council is a case in point. The original specification was for a traditional masonry structure. By applying our expertise in offsite modular and infill systems we were able to re-engineer the project to use a high premanufactured content including lightweight metal framing and joists, floating composite floor slabs and brickwork cladding.
The project was designed to meet Code 4 for Sustainable Homes. The adoption of MMC made it easier to deliver the strict quality control needed to ensure that this standard of energy performance would be delivered in practice.
The project demonstrates how it’s possible to deliver energy-efficient social and affordable housing within an economically viable business model. Being able to deliver projects faster using MMC also brings forward rental or sale income to make investments even more attractive.
Systemised Housing
Osborne has taken this approach a step forward by developing a Systemised Housing product in partnership with offsite construction specialists Innovaré. This features a range of houses and apartments constructed from SIPs and modular bathroom pods. The homes are based around standardised but customisable designs to achieve economies of scale.
By staying at the forefront of innovation in housebuilding Osborne is able to offer a range of solutions for social and mixed-tenure schemes that can be delivered quickly and ready to take their place in a net zero carbon future.
For more information on how Osborne is using innovation to deliver greater value to affordable and mixed tenure housing programmes, contact Richard King ([email protected]).
