Elm Grove, Nailsea – Affordable Passivhaus Living
Elm Grove is a landmark 52-home development in Nailsea, delivered for Stonewood Homes and designed as a 100% affordable and social housing scheme. The project transforms a planning-stage design by Mikhail Riches Architects into a technically robust, energy-efficient community. It includes 44 houses built to Passivhaus Classic standards and 8 bungalows targeting the PHI Low Energy Building Standard, offering high-quality, low-energy homes for those most in need.
Passivhaus Performance
Every home at Elm Grove is designed with energy efficiency at its core. The scheme targets full Passivhaus certification—a world-leading standard for low-energy buildings. A highly insulated timber frame envelope dramatically reduces heat loss and ensures consistent indoor comfort. With airtightness levels below 0.5 air changes per hour at 50 Pa, homes consume less than 15kWh/m²/year for heating—far exceeding UK building regulations. Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems maintain fresh air and thermal stability, complemented by purge ventilation to optimise indoor air quality.
Energy Generation
Sustainability at Elm Grove extends beyond insulation and airtightness. Photovoltaic panels (PVs) are integrated into each home, generating approximately 90% of the required annual energy, further reducing residents’ bills and reliance on the grid. This self-sufficiency reinforces the project's alignment with long-term environmental targets, helping meet the ambitions of Net Zero and reducing carbon emissions across the development’s lifecycle.
A Model for Affordable Sustainable Housing
Elm Grove demonstrates that social housing can lead in environmental performance. The homes are designed not only to be highly efficient but also comfortable, affordable to run, and environmentally responsible. It sets a new benchmark for affordable housing—combining architectural quality with exceptional performance and a lasting social legacy.
