Midland Heart: Delivering on the Future Homes Standard ahead of schedule

When the government announced the Future Homes Standard in 2019, Midland Heart decided to get ahead of the curve and build homes that would meet the standard before the 2025 implementation date. The result was Project 80, a scheme which is already delivering new-build homes to the Future Homes standard.

The UK’s homes account for 40 per cent of carbon emissions, so reducing this is key to addressing our climate change goals. The Future Homes Standard will help us as a sector to do this by mandating that future buildings must be built and lived in with an 80 per cent reduction in current carbon emissions. 

At Midland Heart, we decided to get started early by launching Project 80 - ‘80’ for the 80 per cent reduction in carbon emitted by each home built under the scheme. 

In meeting the new standard, we set some parameters to govern the design and build of the new homes. Firstly, the project had to be completed using local contractors, as far as possible. From architects to suppliers to builders, the companies we worked with were local businesses. Not only is this better for the environment, but it ensures investment in and support of businesses and contractors local to Midland Heart and the developments.

Secondly, the homes had to be built using ‘traditional’ materials and methods. In designing and building these homes, we were very mindful that living in them would mean learning to live differently in them and using some very new technology in doing so. To counter this unfamiliarity, we were determined that the homes look and feel like traditional homes to give some familiarity to residents. 

Thirdly, not only did we want to learn from the experience of designing, building, and living in these homes, we wanted to make sure we were able to share that learning with others. To accomplish this, we worked closely with the Building Alliance and Birmingham City University from the start of the project to design in a research programme that would maximise our learning. 

The first of the two sites, at Eco Drive, Handsworth, didn’t start life as a Future Homes Standard development. Rather, it was adapted from a planned development of normal homes. Land adjacent to the original site became available, and so Midland Heart was able to work with local architects Oakley to use the enlarged site to plan the delivery of the new energy-efficient homes.

The design of the homes was based around the National Development Space Standards, with additional specification from Midland Heart for separate kitchens and straight stairways. The designs were dictated by narrow frontage and a small footprint requiring vertical extension to three floors. The design also had to respect the local context by using brick facades to give a traditional look. 

Midland Heart worked closely with construction contractor Tricas, Birmingham City University, and specialist suppliers and manufacturers on the groundbreaking design. A combination of design and use of enhanced fabrics meant the homes could meet the 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions of the Future Homes Standard. 

The homes were built using traditional construction methods, but without a gas connection. Instead, the homes are heated by electrical systems including air-source heat pumps, panel heaters, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.

All Project 80 homes make use of green tech such as heat pumps and solar panels

The three blocks of homes on the site have different combinations of equipment and performance, to enable to see what works and what is less effective. For example, one of the blocks has a very high degree of air tightness and is mechanically ventilated, whereas the other two blocks are more naturally ventilated. 

We also decided to use photovoltaic (PV) or solar panels on all three blocks. Even though this was not required, we made the decision to ‘future proof’ these homes and take them above and beyond the requirements. 

Our original plan was to also use triple glazing in all the homes; however, practical considerations meant that only double glazing could be used. The performance lost as a result was balanced out by tightening the performance criteria on other elements, such as the walls and roof. 

In partnership with Birmingham City University, Midland Heart recently published the first of several planned research reports on the construction and use of the homes. We were pleased to report that, over the first year of use, the homes performed even better than we thought they would, easily surpassing the Future Homes Standard requirements. 

Not only did the testing show this, the tenants told us that, in the main, they really liked their homes. One said a family member’s asthma had not reoccurred since they had moved in. 

However, despite the information and training that Midland Heart did provide to tenants on the equipment, they told us more was needed to get the most out the homes, some having relied on ‘trial and error’. The main learning point from our research was the importance of working to change human behaviours in line with the new homes’ equipment. 

Finally, our assessment showed the Future Homes Standard homes only cost 15 per cent more than building the same homes to the current building regulations. Over time, this will more than be offset by efficiency savings. 

We have a second Project 80 site in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and plan to deliver more such developments in the future.

• All images courtesy of Midland Heart