North West eco-housing first for Lancaster building company

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.”