Citu begins 51-home Leeds development
The sustainability-focused developer has started construction on the £16m scheme, which is being funded by Close Brothers.
Named Stãll, the brownfield project in Kirkstall is being delivered to Passivhaus standards using modern methods of construction, and will be built on the banks of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
The development as a whole has an expected 18-month build schedule, with the first homes available for occupation at the end of 2023.
The modular closed timber frame panels are designed in-house and manufactured in the Citu factory, located just miles from the site.
Citu said that it expects the energy required for heating to be around five times lower than the average UK house. The scheme will use 100% renewable electricity.
In addition, the development will be set up as a Community Interest Company and have a solar array, co-owned by all of the residents.
Jonathan Wilson, managing director at Citu, said: “Our partnership with Close Brothers has enabled our business, and the communities we are building, to grow. We are excited to collaborate on this latest venture in Kirkstall and deliver places and homes with purpose that give equal priority to people, nature and high standards of living.”
Daniel Joyce, director at Close Brothers Property Finance, said: “Building sustainable housing has never been more important and we are committed to funding future-proofed homes, which are designed to reduce their carbon footprint as well as energy usage.
“We have a strong track record of supporting low carbon developments in the UK and working with the very best developers in the industry to move MMC and passive housing from being a one-off bespoke design model, to a reality for everyday homeowners.
“Developers such as Citu are leading this charge, we’re proud to be supporting them on their journey and look forward to continuing to work with them.”
Fifty one homes will be delivered. Credit: via HERA Comms
I advise Community Housing Groups on how to plan and execute Social Homes to Rent small developments which are PassivHaus Certified and recently visited the Secret Garden – Climate Innovation District in Leeds opposite Citu’s manufacturing base. It was very impressive.
One point I would like to address is; there aren’t any ‘PassivHaus Standards’, but there are ‘PassivHaus Principles’. You can design and build to the ‘PassivHaus Principles’, however, until the homes are actually PassivHaus Certified as, they aren’t! They are simply energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes.
By Philip Smith-Lawrence