On Thursday 26th August, members of local construction best practice group FORCE visited Sampson Close, a sustainable housing development in Coventry. The 23-home scheme is being built on a brown field site in north-east Coventry and combines a mix of terraced housing and apartments. When complete it will be the Midlands first and the UKs largest social housing scheme to obtain PassivHaus Certification

By using PassivHaus design the homes will not only exceed Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 but will also enable the end user to reduce their energy costs by 50% through a design which creates an air-tight, super-insulated building and utilises energy efficient lighting and heating technologies.

Designed by architect Baily Garner and built by Wates Construction for Orbit Homes, the £2.8m development is scheduled to be completed in February 2011.

Sixteen FORCE members attended the visit, including John Cave (Chair) of EH Smith Group, Nigel Robinson (Treasurer) of Bridgewater & Coulton, Brian Dickinson of Do-Little Consulting, Barry Cocks of Coventry City Council and George Obeng-Manu of Orbit Homes.

If you are interested in becoming a member of FORCE (Forum for Constructing Excellence) please visit www.force.uk.net 

As a members you can influence local & nation policy, gain industry knowledge, network, promote your business and showcase best practice opportunities.

Passivhaus on the MADE delegation - click here for more information