Work starts on Drymen Passivhaus social housing development

An official sod-cutting ceremony has been carried out in Drymen, Stirlingshire to mark the start of one of Scotland’s first social housing developments to be built to Passivhaus standards as Cruden Building (West) builds 15 affordable and innovative new homes on behalf of Hanover (Scotland).The eco-friendly new development in Conic Way and Montrose Way will use up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling and up to 70% less energy than conventional buildings through measures including solar photovoltaics on the roof and triple glazed windows.These highly sustainable homes will replace the original Drymen housing which was the first development that Hanover (Scotland) owned when it became independent in 1979. The existing tenants will move into new terraced bungalows and two-story semi-detached homes. The ventilation systems installed in Passivhaus homes means that residents will benefit from a constant supply of fresh air whilst maintaining a comfortable indoor air temperature. The high-performance insulation and windows also make such buildings extremely quiet, and homes will be surrounded by a wildflower meadow to further improve biodiversity. The event was attended by Alex Rowley MSP, who is launching a consultation on legislation that would see all new-build housing meet the internationally recognised Passivhaus standard.This development was featured in the Scottish Housing News COP26SHN showcase of the social housing sector’s efforts to combat climate change.Tags: Cruden Group, Hanover Scotland