Community-owned passivhaus homes set for Dumfries and Galloway

Construction is underway on three new passivhaus-certified homes in the village of Closeburn, Dumfries and Galloway. The ‘family-sized’ homes, in the ownership of the local Development Trust – Nith Valley Leaf Trust (NVLT) – are thought to be the first community-owned Passivhaus-certified homes in Scotland. NVLT has worked on the project with the support of Dumfries and Galloway Small Communities Housing Trust (DGSCHT). The homes will provide accommodation to families with a connection to the local community and are being primarily funded by the Scottish Government’s Rural Housing Fund and the Scottish Land Funds, as well as a loan from the Ecology Building Society. The project, which has been three years in development, has been designed by John Gilbert Architects, with the homes being built by Stewart & Shields. The homes are due for completion by December this year.