Post: Breaking down barriers in the South West

We at Passiframe specialise in timber frame construction to passivhaus standards in the South West. We have been pushing forward with the Passivhaus/low energy standard of construction since 2016. Due to the lack of knowledge within the UK in comparison to neighbouring European countries it hasn’t been an easy task.

We feel we have recently navigated a hurdle with our local Building Control and Planning department at Forest of Dean District Council by gaining interest and support in our construction method. We were recently asked by the planning department to facilitate a tour of one of our newly completed projects that achieved an air pressure test of 0.23ACH / 0.17 m3/m2.h AP50 permeability (single storey dwelling). The planning department in previous years has been pretty dismissive of the benefits of Passivhaus methodologies. With consistent contact and open conversation with them we feel that being asked to speak with the whole department was a great leap forward.

Since the project tour, the Building Control department recommended us for an LABC award and we are thrilled to say that we received an award for ‘Specialist Contractor of the Year’ for the region.

We feel this is a great achievement for the growth of the Passivhaus standard within the UK and wanted to share this.

http://www.passiframe.co.uk