The University of Exeter’s ambitious Clydesdale and Birks Residential Project was, at the time of submission, the largest single planning application for a Passivhaus development in the UK to date.
The project aims to develop approximately 1,500 new student residences to the Passivhaus standard and to refurbish a block of 290 existing residences to the Passivhaus EnerPHit standard.
A relocated office and welfare block is also to be built to the Passivhaus standard.
The scheme, at the University’s Streatham campus in Exeter, has been developed in response to a need for additional campus student accommodation on campus.
The decision to go for Passivhaus as a building standard is in response to the University’s Environment and Climate Emergency Declaration and net zero programme of action.
The project involves the demolition of the current Clydesdale and Nash Grove accommodation and Birks Grange refectory buildings. The existing Birks Grange Village residences will be refurbished to EnerPHit (Passivhaus retrofit) standard.
The new buildings will range in height from three to eight storeys. The project has already been granted outline planning by Exeter City Council.
Hugh McCann, Director of Estate Services at the University of Exeter, will be speaking about Passivhaus at Exeter University at the UK Passivhaus conference on 26 October 2022.
