Attzaz Rashid, Head of Design at Barratt London, sets out why Passivhaus should be the new benchmark for urban housing. He explains how better design, improved workmanship and falling delivery costs are making high-performance homes viable at scale, and highlights Barratt London’s commitment to leading the transition by delivering certified Passivhaus apartments across the capital.


Here’s an astonishing fact. Just one per cent of new homes in the UK are built to Passivhaus standards. 

This figure is staggering on two counts. Firstly, we are all keenly aware of the urgent need for the built environment to respond to the climate crisis. Secondly, when you examine all the benefits of Passivhaus, it’s the logical choice. 

Homes built to this standard use around 90% less energy for heating than conventional ones, which ultimately means lower bills, and big savings for occupiers.

And it’s not only finances that Passivhaus homes free up, they also offer a myriad of other benefits too. Warm in winter, cool in summer with healthy air quality all year round, these are all additional factors which aid overall health and wellbeing. 

So, it really does beg the question, why are just one in 100 new homes being built to these standards? Well, there are a multitude of reasons why I believe that uptake has been slow. 

To start, there is a problem with the name. Public perception views Passivhaus as a unique German concept that’s centred around big Grand Design-styled one-off homes rather than UK homes at scale. 

Then, there’s the well documented skills' shortage across the industry. 

On top of this, and one of the most commonly heard reasons from developers against building to Passivhaus standards, is the cost. However, this argument is losing ground – and fast. 

Back in 2015, The Passivhaus Trust estimated a cost uplift of 15-20%, by 2019 that had fallen to 8%, and today it is nearer to half that, finally making mass market Passivhaus homes a realistic proposition. 

Delivering Passivhaus in London could even be cost neutral if developers consider moving away from district heating. The smartest innovation in housing isn’t more technology; it’s about better design and workmanship. 

Another misconception is that Passivhaus is incompatible with urban density. In fact, it is well suited to London’s built environment. Why? The Passivhaus standard works efficiently with concrete frame, high-density developments, proving that better performance can be delivered without compromise on design or viability. 

In an industry that is facing significant challenges, these obstacles cannot be overlooked. They are real, but so is the cost of inaction. 

That’s why we decided to take a stand. To lead rather than follow suit. To build Passivhaus as standard on all our new apartments across the capital, irrespective of tenure. 

This makes us the first volume developer in the Capital to commit to delivering certified Passivhaus properties on this scale. 

Our new Lo-E homes are 10 times more airtight than building regulations require, extremely well-insulated with triple-glazed windows. They are designed to protect our residents from the heatwaves of the future not just the heatwaves we have experienced over the last few years. 

Now, we have to communicate these benefits to our buyers. Higher up-front standards like Passivhaus aren’t a cost, they help to futureproof our built environment. By setting the bar higher from the outset, we help deliver lower running costs for residents, future-proof compliance with ever-evolving regulation and measurable performance that satisfies buyers. There are still fewer than 2,500 Passivhaus-certified homes in England, but Barratt London’s decision will change that rapidly. 

We’re delivering 455 Lo-E homes at Bollo Lane and 273 at High Barnet with Places for London and Passivhaus consultants Beyond Carbon, setting a new benchmark for sustainable urban living by 2029. 

Along the way, we will be addressing the skills shortage that is making green building a slow process and training a new generation of tradespeople who will be Passivhaus natives. 

We believe that Passivhaus is not only better for our customers but also better for the planet.