A development involving the first zero carbon home to be built in Wales has been launched by the Welsh minister for environment, sustainability and housing Jane Davidson.
Under the Welsh Future Homes project, Holbrook Timber Frame fabricated the three-bed Passivhaus timber frame home – designed to meet Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes – using a closed panel system developed by BRE using Welsh timber. Welsh larch will clad the structure.
On another, two-bed Passivhaus property Woodknowledge Wales, Bere Architects and BRE have worked with Beyer, a UK window designer and eight Welsh joiners to develop a standard Passivhaus window that can be made by Welsh joiners using Welsh timber.
The partners say that prior to the project there was not a single company able to make Passivhaus quality windows in Wales.
A further building is a visitor centre constructed from the Ty Unnos Welsh softwood box beam building system. Windows and doors developed by Vintage Windows will feature in the centre.
The development is a partnership between BRE Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government, Blaenau Gwent Council and United Welsh Housing Association.
