Willmott Dixon is the UK’s leading Passivhaus contractor with nine high-profile Passivhaus projects in our portfolio, either completed or in construction. The latest are the Eclipse Leisure Centre in Spelthorne, the Multi-Faith Centre at the University and Exeter, student accommodation at University of Oxford and new homes in Caerphilly.
We also built the largest non-domestic project, the centre for Medicine at the University of Leicester, and the largest secondary school, the Harris Academy in Sutton, as well as Hackbridge Primary School, also in Sutton.
Core Passivhaus principles include a highly insulated and airtight fabric, coupled with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, whilst keeping buildings warm in winter and cool in summer. The standard now includes the use of renewable energy generation in the certification assessment (Passivhaus Plus and Premium), making it the ideal design standard to achieve net zero carbon.
Passivhaus projects are much less prone to performance gaps, delivering as built performance very close to designed targets. This is achieved through sound design principles, rigorous quality control and a robust certification process, overseen by the Passivhaus institute in Germany. At Willmott Dixon we complement this with Energy SynergyTM, our own process to monitor operational energy use against design targets.
However, Passivhaus doesn’t just deliver impressive energy performance - it puts a strong emphasis on its comfort and health credentials too. This is achieved through thermal bridge free and draught free construction that ensures surface temperatures never fall below 17ºC to eliminate mould risk. The ventilation system is designed for optimum indoor air quality to deliver filtered air as standard.
Willmott Dixon has a track record of collaborating with experienced Passivhaus practitioners, such as Architype, the UK’s best known Passivhaus architectural practice, and Passivhaus certifiers WARM, one of the longest established practices and training provider.
We are a founder member of the UK’s Passivhaus Trust, an independent, non-profit organisation that provides leadership for the adoption of the Passivhaus standard and methodology in the UK. We participate in regular knowledge sharing events and technical panels, to stay at the forefront of Passivhaus developments. Several of our people have now successfully completed Passivhaus training.
Energy efficient, purpose built student accommodation and a net-zero student hub
Two Passivhaus Institute Low Energy Building Standard buildings providing 54 bedrooms for the college’s students
New Passivhaus school with SEN provision
Eight Passivhaus homes form part of larger estate regeneration we are doing in Barking
New facility providing prayer, meeting and study space for all faiths and beliefs on campus built to Passivhaus standards
One of the world's most advanced, energy efficient Passivhaus leisure centres
The build of 12 new one-bedroom apartments and six houses designed to Passivhaus standards in Trethomas and Trecenydd, Caerphilly.
Creating the UK's first Passivhaus ‘plus’ net carbon positive school.
The largest Passivhaus secondary school in the UK.
Largest non-residential building to achieve coveted ultra low energy consumption Passivhaus standard