North West eco-housing first for Lancaster building company

By Rob Kelly

09 Jun 2025

Baldwin Building Services used prefabricated panels made by eco-friendly manufacturer Etopia to construct a block of four apartments and adjoining community centre on behalf of Lancaster City Council.

A Lancaster-based building company has completed the North West’s first housing project built using an innovative, eco-friendly modular panel system.

Baldwin Building Services used prefabricated panels made by eco-friendly manufacturer Etopia to construct a block of four apartments and adjoining community centre on behalf of Lancaster City Council.

Everything about the building, from choice of materials to heating and energy, was designed to be as efficient as possible.

Baldwin Building Services Managing Director Jack Baldwin said: “We’re extremely proud of this project because it embodies our values as a business more than anything we’ve done before.

“As well as achieving excellent energy efficiency through its innovative design, the building has been created through collaboration by numerous local partners.

“We’ve been able to use the opportunity to develop our workforce to bring new ‘green skills’ to the region, and create employment in the local economy.”

The new building forms part of the Alder Grove independent living complex in Lancaster’s Marsh ward. Predominantly for people aged over 60, the council-run complex was built in the early 1970s and consists of 30 homes.

Custom-built Etopia panels used in the construction are formed of 160mm of foam insulation, protected by a cement-bonded outer skin - a combination bringing strength, air-tightness and high levels of energy efficiency.

A 45-panel solar array powers the four properties, which also have access to an integrated e-vehicle charging point.

Mr Baldwin said: “The city council jumped at the opportunity to work with us using this new building technique because there are so many benefits to working in this way.

“Etopia’s panels were created with the aim of keeping carbon emissions and use of water in the construction process to a minimum. The energy-efficient properties of the materials mean carbon emissions remain low throughout the lifecycle of the property.

“Installing modular panels built off-site also meant we were able to minimise noise and dust pollution, as well as disruption and inconvenience to residents during the construction process.

“We’re also very pleased that we were able to complete the project without the need to remove the mature trees on the edges of the site.

“Trying something new like this always comes with a certain amount of trepidation, but having been through the process I hope that this is the first of many similar builds for us.”

The finished buildings have achieved the sought-after EPC A rating - the highest standard for energy efficiency.

Designed by Lancaster-based Mason Gillibrand Architects, the buildings have been developed to be responsive to the needs of future residents.

Ground floor properties have ramped access, widened doorways and fully accessible wet-rooms. Both first-floor properties also have widened stairways to accommodate stair-lifts if required.

The adjoining community centre was designed as an accessible space for residents to socialise, and as an accessible base for the site manager.

Lee Donner, director of Mason Gillibrand Architects, said: “As soon as we and the Baldwin Building Services team saw the Etopia system for ourselves, we wanted to bring it to the Lancaster area.

“Fast forward a couple of years and Baldwin Building Services was taking delivery of the enormous pre-manufactured Etopia panels and craning them into place - we suddenly went from damp-proof course to seeing the roof trusses installed in only six days!

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to hand over these purpose-designed, highly energy efficient new homes, a great example of excellent new local authority housing and an achievement we’re certainly very proud of.”

Lancaster City Council leader and portfolio holder for housing and homelessness Coun Caroline Jackson said: “I’m delighted that work on these much-needed new homes is now complete.

“This project is part of our wider commitment to improving the energy efficiency of council housing and increasing the supply of high-quality homes for local people.

“It also reflects our strong dedication to working with local contractors wherever possible and supporting our local economy.”

 

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Tourism Unsung Hero finalists revealed Jenny Moss Kate Pollard Peter Martland Andy Black

Tourism Unsung Hero finalists revealed

01 Oct 2025

2

Basil's in the pink Basil Newby

Basil's in the pink

30 Sep 2025

3

Celebrating the Women building Britain’s business future at The Enterprise Vision Awards The 2025 Enterprise Vision Award winners

Celebrating the Women building Britain’s business future at The Enterprise Vision Awards

30 Sep 2025

4

Business School recruits three industry leaders to embed employer led innovation into courses University of Lancashire recruit business leaders Rob Binns, Miranda Barker and Marcello Trovati new

Business School recruits three industry leaders to embed employer led innovation into courses

30 Sep 2025

5

Third letting at Frontier Burnley is completed Frontier Park in Burnley CRC Evans

Third letting at Frontier Burnley is completed

30 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world
Oct PTC.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October

Soul Bowl, Morecambe, LA4 4BU

08:00 - 10:00

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace
Muted Blue (4).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
08 Oct 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:30

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin