Greenhaus, Salford for ECF and Salix Homes with Buttress Architects

As part of Salford Council’s £1bn regeneration, this project delivers 96 Passivhaus homes in two L-shaped blocks, six and eight stories high, overlooking Salford Cathedral. It includes one and two-bedroom apartments, green spaces, cycle storage, and easy access to public transport, connecting Manchester and Salford city centres. Utilizing a steel framing system (SFS) for the structural envelope, the development emphasizes sustainability, modern design, and enhanced public space.

Healthy Homes is supported by Wates Group and in association with the TCPA

Who is on the project? 

ECF

Salix Homes

Buttress

Eric Wright Construction

Describe the context of this project and its neighbourhood and how the project was informed by health evidence and housing need.

Greenhaus is the latest collection of homes in our Chapel Street community in Salford, completed in March 2024. ECF is working in partnership with Salford Council on the £1bn regeneration of Salford’s historic centre. The partnership to date has delivered over 1000 homes as part of the Salford Central masterplan and Greenhaus has further added to this vibrant neighbourhood through the delivery of 96 affordable, passivhaus certified homes. Greenhaus is delivered to a Passivhaus “Classic” certified standard, this provides long lasting sustainability benefits to the tenants of the development.  As this is a 100% affordable tenure the benefits are being delivered to those most in need. Tackling fuel poverty – Salford is the 18th most deprived area in the UK with around 31% of residents in the city affected by fuel poverty.  Greenhaus through its energy saving measures will reduce heating and hot water demand by a proven 68%.  This would reduce costs for a typical two bed traditional home from £95/pcm to below £40/pcm. Tackling health inequality – Studies have identified that Salford has one of the highest mortality rates from lung disease in England with 155 deaths per 100,000 people. Greenhaus will have much improved air quality with a constant dilution of CO2 and pollutants that are major causes respiratory illnesses and allergies.  Passivhaus design also reduces the risk of airborne infections.

How does this housing or mixed-use project address the Healthy Homes Principles, including ensuring affordable and secure tenancy arrangements?

Passivhaus homes offer exceptional indoor air quality, which can help lower the risk of respiratory illness. This is achieved by reducing the air infiltration rates and supplying fresh air which is filtered and post heated by the MVHR unit. The airtightness, thermal comfort and improved ventilation also helps protect against airborne pollutants and allergens such as pollen. As a result, many Passivhaus residents have reported an alleviation in allergies such as hay fever and respiratory problems associated with air pollution and mould. The high levels of air tightness demanded by the Passivhaus standards also results in little or no gap in performance, this creates comfortable temperatures and clean internal environments in both winter and summer, which is particularly beneficial for more vulnerable residents. The exceptional levels of air tightness also help minimise the risk of damp, mould, and condensation, lowering the risk of respiratory illnesses that can occur in cold and damp homes. A healthy building is more than just how it works and how energy efficient it is it. It is important to ensure that it also has a positive impact on residents’ mental health and social wellbeing. At Greenhaus, a spacious central residential lobby connects two building entrances to promote interaction between residents. All apartment types have generous open plan living spaces with large windows letting in plenty of natural light. Juliette balconies allow residents to benefit from varied and far-reaching views and create a strong visual connection to the outside. In addition, thickly insulated walls, roof, and floor; triple glazed windows, strict air tightness and mechanical ventilation all work together to provide homes with minimal background noise, creating calm peaceful living environments for residents which can help support positive mental health. Health and wellbeing is dependant not just on design intent but how this is communicated to users and occupants. Controls need to be easily operated and understood by the end user. Salix Homes are obtaining resident and stakeholder feedback and embarking on a careful education process, supporting residents to get the most of out of their new homes. All customers receive a detailed user guide and instructional videos to help them get to grips with their new home and ensure it continually performs as it was designed to.

Tell us what you did to help promote, monitor or manage health and how this informed the design, delivery and the ongoing governance of the project. Was the community engaged in the process?

Greenhaus’ vision was inspired by our commitment to merging outstanding design with affordability and sustainability. Greenhaus also stands as a testament to Buttress’ passion for innovation. Living in a Passivhaus-certified home offers a more comfortable, healthier, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective living environment with benefits such as lower energy bills, improved indoor air quality and long-term sustainability. From the project’s inception, we collaborated with the development team navigating through the design and construction stages and their sequencing to ensure the high standards of Passivhaus. The architectural vision was significantly shaped by the proximity to Salford Cathedral, aiming to provide Greenhaus residents with a unique experience of the surrounding landscape and amenities. Salix have a specialist support team and have installed technology to remotely monitor the air quality and energy usage. They’re monitoring the data, along with repairs and maintenance expenditure, alongside non-Passivhaus developments to help track the long-term benefits and identify lessons learned. Salford is the 18th most deprived area in the UK and the majority of Salix Homes’ customers are in receipt of welfare benefits. The new homes will tackle fuel poverty head-on.