Delivering a Passive House is no small achievement. Delivering a Passive House Plus takes it one step further — and we’re proud to say that’s exactly what we did at Bebington, a new build home in North Leeds.
This carefully detailed project not only meets the rigorous Passive House standard for energy efficiency and airtightness but also generates renewable energy on site, earning it the “Plus” rating. It’s an exceptional result, and one that reflects a huge amount of effort from our entire team.
What Is Passive House Plus?
The Passive House standard focuses on creating ultra-low-energy buildings that maintain comfortable indoor temperatures with minimal heating or cooling. This is achieved through very high levels of insulation, airtight construction, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
Passive House Plus goes a step beyond. In addition to all the usual Passive House requirements, the building must also generate renewable energy on site, such as through solar PV, to offset some of the energy it uses. It’s a more advanced, more sustainable version of an already challenging standard — and still relatively rare in the UK.
Meeting and Exceeding the Targets
From day one, our team worked closely with the architect and design team to ensure every detail supported the building’s performance. Airtightness, thermal bridging, and mechanical ventilation all had to be considered in the early stages and followed through carefully on site.
Some key performance highlights from the build:
- Air permeability target: < 0.60 → Achieved: 0.50
- Air changes per hour (ACH) target: < 0.60 → Achieved: 0.42
- Airflow coefficient target: < 0.60 → Achieved: 0.49
These results reflect an incredibly airtight and well-sealed building envelope, thanks to careful detailing, disciplined workmanship, and thorough testing.
High levels of airtightness are crucial in Passive House design — they minimise heat loss, eliminate draughts, and ensure the ventilation system works as efficiently as possible.
Ventilation & Heat Recovery
The home features a continuous mechanical extraction system with heat recovery (MVHR), which ensures a constant flow of fresh air while capturing warmth from the outgoing air. This system is a core part of the Passive House approach — keeping the home comfortable and healthy, while dramatically reducing the energy demand for heating.
Sustainable Material Choices
While not directly required for Passive House certification, the project integrates sustainable and low-impact materials into the build wherever possible as part of the fabric first approach. This included:
- High-performance insulation with low embodied carbon
- Timber components from certified, responsibly managed sources
- Cork flooring — a natural, renewable, and low-emission material
- Triple-glazed windows with excellent thermal performance
These choices supported the overall environmental ambitions of the project and aligned with the Passive House Plus philosophy — creating a home that is not just energy efficient but holistically sustainable.
A Team Effort
Achieving Passive House Plus was a team effort. From groundworkers and joiners to airtightness testers and M&E installers, everyone played a role in reaching such exacting standards. This level of build quality isn’t just about ticking boxes — it results in a home that’s warm, quiet, incredibly energy-efficient, and built to last.
We’re proud to be leading the way in high-performance construction here in Yorkshire, and we look forward to delivering more Passive House and sustainable homes in the near future.
