Cameron Close
Isle of Wight, UK
project overview
Sustainable homes, providing comfort with extremely low running costs
Cameron Close comprises of 16 family houses and 12 sheltered housing apartments, all of which are Passivhaus certified. The attractive and desirable development sits around inviting streets, with all homes having front and back gardens, while the apartments have generous, landscaped kitchen gardens giving plenty of private outdoor space.
All the homes perform extremely well environmentally and are considered excellent value for money by the local authority, considering the high level of specification, low running costs and long-term environmental benefits.
I haven’t used the heating at all. I don’t like a lot of heating anyway but the temperature’s been fine! I haven’t even thought about putting it on.”
Cameron Close Resident
2017![AHR-Residential-CameronClose-Exterior1-Architecture-IsleofWight](https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Cameron-Close/HH-IOW-039.jpg?w=800&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015517&s=e8db6e1d721608807a7c7e1301d17f1d 800w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Cameron-Close/HH-IOW-039.jpg?w=1100&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015517&s=1abcbf1dfc7349daf22aa6ea1fcd7a55 1100w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Cameron-Close/HH-IOW-039.jpg?w=1300&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015517&s=a8fba1380f6dc7cf9ef0e54d4b13521c 1300w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Cameron-Close/HH-IOW-039.jpg?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015517&s=c71925d99963f4647a557df5b7730789 1600w, https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Cameron-Close/HH-IOW-039.jpg?w=1920&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015517&s=5280dea7d441b16c2d3b8e4e1e0a513b 1920w)
project journey
Highly specified homes that don’t lose sight of the architect’s vision
Cameron Close sits in the rural village of Freshwater on the Isle of Wight. The site was previously occupied by a Southern Housing Group sheltered housing scheme which was at the end of its life. All the existing homes on the site needed demolishing and we needed to provide homes which were low on energy consumption yet comfortable and healthy for people to live in.
Southern Housing Group did not originally intend for the scheme to be Passivhaus accredited. Yet the group wanted to consider how to respond to the net zero carbon agenda and looked at a fabric-first approach, over the use of micro-renewable technologies. This would enable the scheme to meet the stringent requirements needed to be eligible for grant funding from the Isle of Wight Council, under its Sustainable Community Strategy.
After the decision to go forward with the Passivhaus standard was made, we needed to alter our original stepped and staggered design. In the Passivhaus design, there is a limited number of external walls which you can use, so we needed to reduce these in order to minimise heat loss externally.
By amending the design, we developed a new semi-detached house typology for this project which strays from the typical Passivhaus design. The result is a Passivhaus-compliant community, that doesn’t compromise on quality, comfort or architectural vision.
I love it here. I love the fact it’s so quiet. And it’s warm without having the heating on.”
Cameron Close Resident
2017passivhaus design
Creating desirable homes whilst improving efficiency
challenges and solutions
Innovative design to achieve Passivhaus accreditation
We worked with Passivhaus Consultants, Low Energy Building Consultants (WARM) to ensure that the scheme would meet all the requirements of Passivhaus accreditation. Achieving Passivhaus accreditation required an exacting and meticulous approach but using a solid aircrete frame constructed from the Thin-Joint system meant at least the construction process itself was simplified.
A lot of housing associations have built residential schemes to Passivhaus principles, but have not gone down the full route of Passivhaus certification for all homes. We achieved accreditation by ensuring that everyone in our team, the contractor, the manufacturer and the client were all on board with all the procedures from the start and by taking great care with processes and materials. It was critical to the success of the project that everyone needed to embrace and understand the concept as attention to detail is paramount from the outset.
From a design point of view, Passivhaus is challenging, features such as porches and letterboxes require innovative solutions to provide the same function.
By creating a significant amount of construction drawings and details on-site, we avoided any cold bridging and created extremely airtight homes. We maintained a great relationship throughout delivery with the contractor, which ensured that the execution of our designs was meticulous.
We made sure everyone bought into it at every level so everyone could understand the consequences of their actions.
Everything had to be done by the book – around every window, every door and every pipe. A key lesson for us was the need for forward planning, especially in mechanical and electrical services. You can’t have plumbers just drilling through a wall. Design details have to be thought through at the front end much more than usual.”
David Harris
Financial Director, Stoneham Construction![AHR-Residential-CameronClose-Exterior14-Architecture-IsleofWight](https://ahr-website.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/uploads/Projects/Cameron-Close/Long-quote-image.jpg?w=650&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&dm=1684015517&s=655ac6faa300f1a5ba7df43013671340)
passivhaus design
Offsetting the Passivhaus over the scheme’s lifecycle
The extra capital cost incurred by designing homes to achieve Passivhaus accreditation had the potential to be offset by lower running costs. This uplift included enhanced triple glazing, more insulation, heavier gauge membranes and additional care during construction to achieve the required airtightness. By minimising fuel poverty and providing homes with lower running costs, the residents of Cameron Close are happier and in their homes for longer, reducing voids for Southern Housing Group.
£900
per year
estimated energy bill savings
£25k
cost saving
estimated for the entire scheme
11
years payback
period estimated for the capital cost
20%
faster
construction methods
100%
affordable
homes
84%
lower than average
gas consumption in 2015
PASSIVHAUS DESIGN
An exacting, meticulous and fabric-first approach to construction
key information
Project summary
Location
Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5BF
Client
Southern Housing Group
Completion
2015
Value
£4.2m
Size
0.636 ha
Environmental
Passivhaus accredited
U values
Ground Floor - 0.1W/m2K
Roof - 0.8W/m2K
Ext. wall (houses) - 0.8W/m2K
Ext. wall (apartments) - 0.11W/m2K
Windows - 0.96W/m2K
Includes
16 family houses
12 sheltered housing apartments
Awards
Housing Design Awards 2016
Shortlisted
Housing Innovation Awards 2017
Shortlisted - Most Innovative Affordable Housing Scheme
Contact
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