Largest net zero volumetric retirement scheme delivered in Doncaster

Leading not-for-profit provider Housing 21 has completed Patent House and Patent Walk in Doncaster – England’s largest net zero volumetric Retirement Living scheme.   

Built offsite at M-AR’s factory in Hull, the scheme adopts Housing 21’s ‘low carbon specification’ to meet the Future Homes Standard and 2050 net zero targets.    

It’s the third modular project delivered for Housing 21 by M-AR with Henry Riley acting as Employer’s Agent and Modular Consultant. Supported with funding from Doncaster Council and Homes England, the scheme will enable people aged 55 and over to live independently within a community setting.   

Comprising a total of 64 volumetric modules to provide a total of 20 homes, the scheme includes eight two-bedroom bungalows, as well as a three-storey building featuring six one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments – all available for social rent.   

Located off Cooke Street, residents will also be able to enjoy the facilities at another Housing 21 scheme, Minden Court, located adjacent to Patent House and Patent Walk. Minden Court has a spacious communal lounge, which was renovated in 2017 and is surrounded by extensive open-plan gardens featuring outdoor seating.   

Boasting several green credentials, photovoltaic (PV) panels have been installed on the new Retirement Living complex as well as on the roof of Minden Court to increase energy production for the wider scheme.    

Offsite construction methods played a significant role in enabling Housing 21 to meet its net zero ambitions for the scheme due to the level of build accuracy that can be achieved through the highly controlled factory environment and precision engineering.    

Following circular economy principles, M-AR also ensured any waste generated on the production line was either recycled or reused. Similarly, the module frames are fabricated from volumetric lightweight steel, which can be easily recycled at the end of the building’s life.    

Tony Tench, deputy chief executive at Housing 21, said: “This has been an incredibly exciting project for us to deliver. We had a very clear objective for developing this scheme. Not only did we want to provide an entirely affordable Retirement Living complex, but we wanted to ensure it could achieve net zero in terms of operational carbon so that we can keep energy costs as low as possible for our future residents.”

Ryan Geldard, director at M-AR, added: “We’re passionate about the benefits of offsite construction from an environmental, cost and efficiency perspective and this scheme ticks all these boxes. Working closely with partners like Housing 21 who take a visionary approach to delivery is really important as it allows us to collaboratively unlock the potential of offsite.”

Deputy Mayor and cabinet member for Housing and Business, Cllr Glyn Jones, said: “Affordable, energy efficient housing is a high priority for Doncaster, and I am delighted to welcome this exciting project. I hope that those who are moving into this setting thoroughly enjoy the facilities on offer and I want to thank the team at Housing 21 for their efforts in seeing this project through to this exciting stage.”  

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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