Plans for UK’s largest Passivhaus programme revealed

Stirling prize-winning practice Mikhail Riches has unveiled plans for a multi site housing programme in York, set to be the UK’s largest Passivhaus and net-zero carbon scheme.The project for City of York Council will build new developments on seven sites across the city, ranging from 30 to 165 homes and co-designed with local communities.The programme sets out to reflect both the ‘human experience’ and the ‘global shift in work and life patterns’ following the pandemic, as well as meeting the council’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.It will encourage ‘genuine low-carbon lifestyles’ by integrating sustainable modes of transport, biodiverse landscapes, spaces for growing fruit and vegetables, and sustainable drainage systems. The scheme has been inspired by York’s own design manual.The homes will be arranged in a series of low-rise and high-density terraces with access to private outdoor spaces. Generous landscaping will be integral to community use through open play schemes, outdoor areas and green planting space.At one of the sites, Duncombe Barracks, Mikhail Riches’ proposal – developed with neighbourhood planner Angela Koch at Imagine Places – includes an outdoor gathering space for a popular local church, a play-space for children from the wider area, as well as much needed intergenerational homes.The announcement of further project details comes almost a year after the practice beat 50 other entries to win the job. The competition required applicants to detail their approach to inclusive design, creating healthy places, overcoming physical constraints, local context, environmental sustainability, and post-occupancy evaluation.Applicants were also asked to detail three residential schemes of at least 50 homes from the previous five years where they provided equivalent services.Mikhail Riches, working with Cathy Hawley, won last year’s RIBA Stirling Prize for its pioneering Goldsmith Street project, which delivered a series of 100 new Passivhaus homes for Norwich City Council on a complex urban infill site.The latest project is part of plans by City of York Council to deliver 600 new market sale, social rent and low-cost ownership homes across several sites over the next five years.The project’s £33 million first phase will deliver up to 220 residential units on three plots, including the former Burnholme College site, former Askham Bar park and ride and the disused Duncombe Barracks. Future phases include the former Clifton Without School, the former Manor School, the former Woolnough House old people’s home and Hospital Fields Road.Dwelling types for the remaining projects will be agreed on a site-by-site basis.