Woodknowledge Wales

Woodknowledge Wales

Inspiring innovation through collaboration

Building Performance

Pentan Architects win 2025 MacEwen Award for Severn View Park Care Home

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Celebrating design excellence in socially responsible architecture and sustainable timber construction in Wales

Monmouthshire County Council’s state-of-the-art Severn View Park Care Home was officially opened on Wednesday, 18 September, by Council Leader Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby. Source: Monmouthshire Beacon

A huge congratulations to Pentan Architects, a valued Woodknowledge Wales member, for winning the prestigious 2025 RIBA MacEwen Award for their outstanding work on Severn View Park Care Home in Chepstow. This recognition is a testament to the firm’s commitment to designing buildings that not only meet high architectural and environmental standards but also serve the well-being of communities.

The MacEwen Award celebrates projects that demonstrate “architecture for the common good,” and Severn View Park Care Home is a shining example of this ethos. The project showcases how thoughtful, sustainable timber design can create high-quality, uplifting spaces for residents, staff, and visitors alike. You can read the full award announcement on the RIBA Journal online.

A new approach to care home design

Severn View Park redefines the typical care home environment, moving away from an institutional model towards a design that fosters dignity, independence, and community connection. Pentan Architects achieved this by integrating innovative timber construction techniques, natural light, and carefully considered spatial layouts to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The use of timber, a core focus for Woodknowledge Wales, plays a pivotal role in the building’s success. Timber not only reduces the project’s carbon footprint but also contributes to the well-being of residents by providing a healthier indoor environment. The material’s natural aesthetic and thermal properties create a sense of comfort, which is crucial in a care setting.

The role of timber in sustainable and socially responsible design

As an organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable timber construction in Wales, we are thrilled to see this award-winning project exemplify the principles we advocate for. Severn View Park demonstrates how the use of timber can lead to significant environmental and social benefits:

  • Carbon Reduction: Timber sequesters carbon, helping to mitigate climate change while offering a renewable alternative to carbon-intensive materials.
  • Well-being: Research shows that exposure to timber in buildings can lower stress levels and improve overall health—an essential consideration for care home residents.
  • Energy Efficiency: The project incorporates high-performance timber construction techniques to ensure optimal thermal performance, reducing the building’s operational energy demand.

Learning from best practice

Pentan Architects’ achievement is a milestone not only for the organisation but also for the broader Welsh construction sector. It highlights how sustainable, locally sourced timber can be at the heart of innovative architectural solutions that improve people’s lives.

The award also reinforces the growing importance of material choices in shaping the future of social housing, healthcare, and community-focused developments. Woodknowledge Wales remains committed to supporting architects, developers, and policymakers in adopting sustainable timber construction as the default approach to new building projects.

The future of timber-led design in Wales

With this recognition, Severn View Park Care Home sets a precedent for future developments across Wales. The project exemplifies the Welsh Government’s aspirations for high-quality, sustainable housing and care environments, aligning with broader efforts to decarbonise the built environment and promote well-being through design.

Pentan Architects’ success is a powerful reminder that architecture has the ability to enhance lives, support communities, and address pressing environmental challenges. As we look ahead, Woodknowledge Wales will continue to champion projects that embrace these values and showcase the potential of sustainable timber construction.

Congratulations to Pentan Architects

Once again, congratulations to Pentan Architects for this well-deserved recognition. Their work on Severn View Park Care Home is an inspiration to the architectural community and a significant achievement for sustainable design in Wales.

Pilot project explores the future of sustainable schools

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A pioneering approach to empower young learners to design sustainable schools through creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

An exciting new collaboration between Morgan Sindall Construction and Cymbrogi Futures was launched this January at St Joseph’s RC School and Ysgol Bae Baglan. This innovative pilot project will run over one term, engaging learners in designing the Sustainable School of the Future—a challenge that encourages them to consider how their school can serve People, Planet, and Nature.

Working in teams, learners will develop creative solutions and present their ideas to an authentic, real-world audience in April. The project is designed to enhance essential skills such as Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Metacognition.

Beyond the classroom, Cymbrogi Futures is leveraging this pilot to develop an AI ‘Study Buddy’, in partnership with UCL’s Computer Science and Sustainability departments. This tool aims to support young people in their learning journeys, equipping them with the confidence and knowledge to engage with sustainability and innovation.

Intended Outcomes

  • Greater awareness of sustainable construction and career opportunities within the sector.
  • Enhanced educational engagement through a learner-led, project-based approach.
  • Increased self-efficacy in young people by integrating tools like Artificial Intelligence.
  • Reduced climate anxiety through an empowerment-focused learning model.

Next Steps

In March, Morgan Sindall will host workshops in both schools, offering teams expert feedback on their initial designs. This will provide an opportunity for learners to refine their ideas while gaining insight into potential career pathways in sustainable construction.

The project will culminate in showcase events in April, where teams will present their final concepts, and a winning idea will be selected.

This initiative represents a significant step towards equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to contribute to a sustainable built environment. Woodknowledge Wales is excited to follow this journey and share the outcomes of this pioneering collaboration.

Cymbrogi was established to equip learners and educators with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary to shape thriving, sustainable futures for themselves, their communities, and the planet. By placing nature at the heart of the learning experience, Cymbrogi addresses areas such as climate anxiety, critical thinking, creative enterprise, and collaboration.

Morgan Sindall Construction undertakes projects like the Sustainable School of the Future to create long-lasting, environmentally sustainable communities. Their social value strategy focuses on benefiting taxpayers, local communities, and individuals by enhancing social, economic, and environmental well-being. By engaging in such initiatives, they aim to inspire future generations and promote sustainable development.

Projects like the Sustainable School of the Future align with Woodknowledge Wales’ mission to drive the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon built environment. By engaging young people in timber-based, climate-conscious design, these initiatives inspire future professionals, promote local supply chains, and enhance awareness of sustainable construction, ensuring that education and industry collaborate for a greener future.

The Secret Campsite honoured for sustainable design excellence at the Scottish Structural Awards

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Embracing the principles of a circular economy by prioritised material reuse not just at the end of the building’s life but from the very beginning led to a remarkably low-carbon and low-cost building

Congratulations to Toby Maclean and his team at Allt Environmental Structural Engineers, Shaun Ryder of Rural Workshop and Local Works Studio who have been recognised with the “Best Sustainable Design Project” award at the Scottish Structural Awards. This accolade, awarded to The Secret Campsite project on behalf of the Secret Camping Club, celebrates their innovative all-timber approach, including reclaimed materials and timber foundations, in their latest project.

The Scottish Structural Awards, organised by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), highlight outstanding achievements in structural engineering, with a focus on sustainability and innovation. Allt Environmental’s project stood out for its commitment to environmental responsibility and resource efficiency.

“The highly collaborative approach between builder, engineer and architect led to flexibility with material selection according to local and reclaimed availability and the sketch format used for construction drawinqs enabled a rapid response to changes and build preferences,” explained Toby Maclean, founder of Allt Environmental Structural Engineers and Construction | Independent advisor for Woodknowledge Wales.

The Secret Campsite in East Sussex

Telegraph pole split for use as floor beam
Telegraph pole floor beam with old BT markings

The new amenity and facilities building at The Secret Campsite in East Sussex showcases an extraordinary commitment to sustainability and environmental sensitivity. Designed as the ultimate “light-touch” structure, this project minimises its ecological impact from inception to execution.

Accessible and family bathroom

Initially, the client had received planning approval for a standard concrete block amenity building for showers and washing facilities. However, they became dissatisfied with the environmental and aesthetic impact of the proposed design and its cost. Seeking a better solution, they approached the team to create something more aligned with their values and the site’s unique character.

The team collaborated with architects to develop a strategy cantered on using locally available materials, including some sourced directly from the site. By embracing the principles of a circular economy, the project prioritised material reuse not just at the end of the building’s life, as is often the case, but from the very beginning.

A timber frame structure was chosen, supported by reused telegraph pole posts that cantilever from the ground, eliminating the need for carbon-intensive foundations. Locally sourced larch and sweet chestnut were used for the superstructure, ensuring minimal environmental impact and a harmonious fit within the surrounding landscape.

The result is an airy, lightweight building that not only enhances the campsite’s amenities but also aligns with its sustainable ethos. This standout feature elevates the campsite’s appeal while being procured at a lower cost than the original standard design. This project exemplifies innovation, environmental responsibility, and a forward-thinking approach to sustainable construction.

Calculating embodied carbon in this unusual building

While the building is unheated and so avoided the embodied carbon associated with insulation, the approach adopted can still be seen to have led to a remarkably low-carbon and low-cost building with many principles applicable to “more usual” buildings.  The dedication to re-use of materials and use of natural materials is the predominant driver behind this.

“We have undertaken an embodied carbon calculation in accordance with the generally accepted RICS methodology via the IStructE  / Elliott Wood carbon calculator and verified this through in-house tools,” explained Toby. “Note that a nominal carbon intensity figure of 0.1 kg CO2e/kg was used for reclaimed metal roofing and reclaimed timber to cover the recovery and transport emissions.”

The results were calculated for the structural elements only and separately for the whole building (excluding fittings) and they show the building performs exceptionally well achieving an A++ score across the board.

This recognition from the Scottish Structural Awards underscores Allt Environmental’s dedication to advancing sustainable practices in structural engineering.

Housing’s better future

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Social Housing Developers Community of Practice members enjoy a hosted tour to include both off-site creation of timber frame panels and on-site progress at the Gwynfaen Project

Members of Woodknowledge Wales, colleagues from Welsh Government and Hale Group at the end of the Gwynfaen tour

On 21 October 2024, members of Woodknowledge Wales’ Social Housing Developers Communities of Practice (CoP) made two linked site visits to see how timber is being used to make new homes t near Swansea. This event enabled CoP members to see both the off-site creation of timber frame panels at the SO Modular factory in Neath, and the on-site progress at Pobl Group‘s Gwynfaen Project (Penyrheol, Swansea) which has been referenced in many discussions over the last few years.

The visit proved to be an opportunity to watch the process of transforming lengths of home-grown timber into the panels that, once taken to site and assembled, make up the shell of new energy efficient homes. On a site overlooking the Loughor Estuary and with a view of the Gower peninsular work is underway on the third phase of the project which will create 144 new high performance homes.

A Social Housing Developers CoP visit photo story

Jon James, Steve Cranston and Catrin Sneade listening intently to Warren Rowlands 

Sevenoaks (SO) Modular factory in Neath

The day began at Sevenoaks (SO) Modular’s factory in Neath. We started with a presentation by Head of Production and Technical Efficiency Warren Rowlands – someone well respected by his peers for his knowledge and his willingness to share it, in what is a very competitive, commercial environment. Warren explained the approach to timber frame construction and some of the challenges in off-site manufacturing. 

Panels being framed at a workstation 

The tour of the factory walked everyone through the stages of creating the key components of the timber frame homes, including the optimised cutting of the timber, the nailing of the frames, automated insulation with wood fibre and the installation of doors and windows. 

Windows and doors are installed in the timber frame panels.

Wood fibre insulation fills each panel before it’s closed up.

Pobl Group’s Gwynfaen site in Penyrheol, Swansea

Hale’s Tom Bevan talks about the specification and achieving airtightness targets.

From the factory we headed from Neath to Gwynfaen site in Penyrheol, Swansea. From the site office, Hale Group’s Construction Director Tom Bevan and Pobl Group’s Project Manager, Peter Remedios, took everyone around the third phase of the project. Our hosts pointed out the progression of new homes from initial site delivery and assembly, through the stages of completion, highlighting some of the key features of the individual homes and the site. 

Phase 3 homes under construction. External finishes include render and timber cladding.

The homes are weather-tight within a week of the panels arriving on site and the completed homes are finished in around six months.  

The Gwynfaen Project has been designed as a high-quality, cohesive and sustainable community using rural planning principles and being led by a strong green infrastructure and placemaking approach. The notion of ‘combustion free living’ has challenged some of the more conservative and traditional ‘gatekeepers’ but as with all developments, compromises have been struck in order to make progress. 

Pobl Group’s Elfed Roberts outlines the approach to placemaking at Gwynfaen 

The site tour finished with a look into some of the culs-de-sac of completed timber clad homes and a visit to the Sales & Marketing Suite. Here we were able to see the completed layout of rooms and how the fabric of the new homes has accommodated the technology to reduce the energy needs of the occupiers. Built in technology includes air source heat pumps, solar photovoltaics, batteries and mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems. Requirements for the project also include the use of Welsh sourced timber for the superstructure (panels) along with wood fibre for the insulation, Welsh Larch cladding and timber triple glazed windows and doors.

Appreciating the completed homes and spaces 

The Gwynfaen Project has further phases ahead and it’s likely that the precise design and manufacture of the homes will continue to be refined as a result of the off- and on-site experience of the client and contractor. We look forward to a return visit at some point. 

For Woodknowledge Wales, site visits like these provide important opportunities for members to see how the ideas and concepts discussed at CoP meetings are becoming a reality. They are important networking opportunities, a chance to be inspired, introduced to fresh thinking and where solutions to common problems can be shared.

We wish to thank both So Modular and Pobl Group for making this visit possible.

For further information about future site visits, please contact David Hedges.

For information about Woodknowledge Wales membership and/or joining the Social Housing Developers Community of Practice, or another of our CoPs, please contact Rachel Cook.

Building performance evaluation by Woodknowledge Wales

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Woodknowledge Wales kicks off its building performance evaluation service at various social housing schemes around Wales

U-value calculations using thermography-based assessment: Heat3D

Starting on Friday 1 March, Dr Diana Waldron, Head of Built in Environment, and Clara Koehler, Embodied Carbon Lead, carried out various on-site building performance evaluation (BPE) on behalf of Woodknowledge Wales. This work was undertaken in collaboration with Build Test Solutions (BTS) and SOAP Retrofit. The sites under assessment are social housing schemes of various building typologies.

Dr Diana Waldron, Head of Built in Environment

This work aims to develop strategies to tackle the ‘Performance Gap’. New homes often fail to meet low-energy targets, and to satisfy residents’ fundamental needs such as ease of use, summer comfort and energy costs. Woodknowledge Wales recommends a ‘core’ BPE scope for clients and project teams wanting to understand and improve the performance of their homes. This provides a holistic look at performance, including people, the indoor environment, fabric performance and energy use.

This approach limits the involvement of expensive equipment. Instead, the aim is to embed building performance throughout the project stages and empower project teams to deliver high performance.

All BPE equipment used by our team was supplied by Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) at the University of Trinity Saint David (UWTSD).

How to carry out U-values calculations on two different walls simultaneously.
Above and Right: How to carry out U-value calculations on two different
walls simultaneously.
U-value measurement of an external wall using Heat3D.

A U-value, or thermal transmittance, measures heat transfer from inside to outside through a building element. It’s expressed in W/m²K. Infrared imagery helps locate suitable points for measuring U-values, typically areas with uniform temperatures away from thermal bridging zones. Therefore, these assessments used two methods to measure the U-values of various building elements: Heat3D and Heat flux plates/sensors.

Using Heat flux sensors to measure heat flux proves valuable as these readings indicate whether an object’s temperature will increase, decrease, or remain constant. They also provide insights into the reasons behind and the rate of temperature changes.

Surveying an external wall using thermography.
Assessing COP (coefficient of performance) of installed MVHR unit, to test appropriate ventilation levels.
Measuring ventilation levels at
inlet and outlet points of the mechanical ventilation system.
Above and right: Blower Door Test.
Above and below right: Pulse Test

Pulse tests assess building leakage from 2-15 Pa with dynamic high-frequency data logging over a brief 6-15 second test. Results at 4Pa are provided and extrapolated to 50Pa equivalents. Pulse tests confirm if replacement windows or doors have made your property more airtight. Pulse tests can be conducted pre- and post-installation.

Uptake of this new service has been excellent. Woodknowledge Wales undertook building performance evaluation in four different sites in different parts of Wales this month alone. We are starting to plan future sites for the next heating season.

If you would like to book Woodknowledge Wales team of experts to carry out a building performance evaluation on your site, please contact: diana.waldron@woodknowledgewales.co.uk

For further information on building performance, please read our Building Performance Evaluation Guide.

This guidance is aimed at housing clients, and anyone interested in Building Performance Evaluation (BPE)  who want to evaluate and improve the performance of homes.

Representatives of the Woodknowledge Wales team ( From left to right: Gary Newman, David Hedges, Dr Diana Waldron, Ceri Loxton)

New pods to bring built environment learners good fabric performance skills

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University of Wales Trinity St David’s Construction Wales Innovation Centre welcomed delivery of two new building performance test pods designed specifically to provide hands-on learning around fabric-first building performance

On 14 December 2023, Julie Evans, Project Manager, Passivhaus Training forCarmarthenshire, announced the arrival of the new building performance test pods for the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) Welsh Timber and Building Performance Development Centre in Lampeter. The pods will be used in the delivery of the Not Business as Usual, Construct Net-Zero Cymru (CNZC) project to train industry, construction students in Further and Higher Education, and other community learners.

“The building performance test pods were built specifically to provide a hands-on experience. They will help built environment students and other learners to better understand what constitutes good fabric performance which is a critically important new skill needed to create low carbon buildings.” said Gary Newman, CEO, Woodknowledge Wales

Designed and constructed in collaboration with Woodknowledge Wales, Rob Thomas, Hiraeth Architecture and Kenton Jones (Designers and Makers), the building performance pods blend teaching, research, and innovation with carefull design and construction to deliver state-of-the-art, practical learning tools.

The pods were built by technical experts to reflect Passivhaus principles and the Welsh Building Regulations. Both pods will enable students to try their hand at Building Performance Evaluation (BPE) techniques such as air tightness, U-Value measurement, thermal performance and heat loss.

A key element in the Not Business as Usual, Construct Net-Zero Cymru (CNZC) project, each pod illustrates closed panel timber frame construction and will also be a useful tool to educate a wide range of audiences in terms of low-carbon, high performance construction using timber as a sustainable building material.

The Not Business As Usual CNZC project will focus on educating learners on the importance of building fabric. It will work to improve principles and techniques applied in the design, construction, and maintenance of a variety of low-carbon construction methods.

“CWIC and its partners are working alongside partners in industry, higher and further education, schools and the third sector to create and deliver micro courses in ‘Fabric First‘ design. Sessions will be held in the UWTSD’s construction workshop using a range of tailor-made equipment and training aids to enhance these skills,” said Julie Evans, Project Manager, Passivhaus Training for Carmarthenshire, Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC)

Read CWIC’s press release: Arrival of new building performance test pods enhances practical learning

Read more about the Not Business as Usual, Construct Net-Zero Cymru (CNZC) project

Free Technical Timber Webinars 2024 from BM TRADA

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BM TRADA has announced its 2024 Timber Webinar programme,  with updated content and deep dives into strength grading, modified woods and CLT. Register now to enhance your skills and knowledge, and gain valuable insights from timber experts.

Timber Frame series

  • Right on site: Key timber frame details with Robin Lancashire, Senior Timber Frame Consultant, BM TRADA, 25 January 2024 · 11:00AM – 12:00PM GMT Registration link
  • Moisture management in timber frame design and construction with Robin Lancashire, Senior Timber Frame Consultant, BM TRADA, 8 February 2024 · 11:00AM – 12:00PM GMT Registration link

This series will be repeated in the latter half of the year.

Technical Timber series

  • Strength grading with Nick Clifford, Senior Technical Consultant, BM TRADA and Dr Dan Ridley-Ellis, Edinburgh Napier University, 18 April 2024 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM BST Registration link
  • Modified woods and panel products with Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, and Adam Moring, Timber Technical Consultant, BM TRADA, 2 May 2024 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM BST Registration link
  • Understanding wood degrading insects and microorganisms with Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, BM TRADA, 16 May 2024 · 11:00AM – 12:00PM BST Registration link
  • Timber adhesives with Richard Nunn, Sales Director, Ureka, 6 June 2024 · 11:00AM – 12:00PM BST. Registration link


CLT series

  • Achieving durability with CLT: Mitigating Construction Phase moisture with Nick Clifford, Senior Timber Technical Consultant, BM TRADA, 4 July 2024 · 11:00AM – 12:00PM GMT Registration link
  • Achieving durability with CLT: Designing for durability with Nick Clifford, Senior Timber Technical Consultant, BM TRADA, 18 July 2024 · 11:00AM – 12:00PM GMT Registration link


Fundamentals of Timber series

  • From trees to timber with Ben Sharples, Technical Manager, Timber Services, and Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, BM TRADA, 7 November 2024 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM GMT Registration link
  • Quality and properties of timber with Nick Clifford, Senior Technical Consultant, and Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, BM TRADA, Part One: Wood and timber properties and Part 2: Quality of timber, 14 November 2024 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM GMT Registration link
  • Moisture in timber with Adam Moring, Timber Technical Consultant, with Nick Clifford, Senior Technical Consultant, 28 November 2024 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM GMT Registration link
  • Protecting timber with Adam Moring, Timber Technical Consultant, and Dr Andy Pitman, Principal Technical Consultant, BM TRADA, 5 December 2024 · 11:00AM – 1:00PM GMT Registration link

For further publications on timber, industry information, and regular updates on training opportunities from BM TRADA, please register with the bookshop and subscribe to the enewsletter.

Why invest in woodfibre insulation manufacturing in Wales | Policy Briefing

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A healthy, high performance and low carbon built environment is an essential element of the Welsh Government’s ambitious decarbonisation strategy. Welsh Government policy aims to ensure that low carbon homes are increasingly delivered by local companies using sustainable Welsh supply chains. The Welsh Government regards woodfibre insulation as a key material to decarbonise existing as well as new homes. 

Woodfibre insulation has reached a level of market acceptance in the UK construction sector that justifies the establishment of a Wales based production centre. The Welsh Government believes that the high cost of transport from the continent is now critically hindering market growth for woodfibre insulation products in the UK market. Locating the UK’s first woodfibre insulation manufacturing facility in Wales benefits from the following key advantages: 

— The development of the forest industries sector in Wales is a strategic priority and part of the Welsh Government’s plans to re-focus the Welsh economy upon the sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. 

— The Welsh Government is implementing a range of ambitious policy interventions at both the industrial and the community levels to increase economic resilience and to support ambitious decarbonisation plans for Wales. 

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£4.6 million for GW4 Alliance-led project to retrofit UK homes based on designs to push beyond Net Zero

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A project led by the Universities of Bath and Cardiff will work with communities in Bristol and Swansea to co-design energy efficient and low carbon housing

Researchers from Bath and GW4 Alliance partners are set to transform existing housing into ‘Beyond Net Zero’ liveable homes Image: Optimised Retrofit

A research project led jointly by the University of Bath and Cardiff University will work with communities in Bristol and Swansea to co-design energy efficient and low carbon housing fit for the future, thanks to a £4.6 million award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). 

Researchers from across the GW4 Alliance of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter universities will work with industry, community groups and local authorities to transform existing housing into ‘Beyond Net Zero’ liveable homes, as part of UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Green Transition Ecosystem.

The housing sector is responsible for around 20% of the country’s total carbon emissions and with 80% of the homes that will be occupied in 2050 already built, retrofitting the country’s existing housing stock to improve energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions, is critical to achieving the UK’s Net-Zero targets. 

The team will design, test, implement and monitor innovative prototype bio-based lower carbon solutions to improve the energy efficiency and resilience of housing, and evaluate their performance compared to traditional synthetic materials. The goal is to create scalable and transferable designs and solutions to retrofit a greater number of houses and different house types. 

The project will also demonstrate bio-based solutions across a small number of traditional brick-built houses in Bristol and Swansea, constructed by councils between 1920-1940. These account for approximately 1.1 million of the homes occupied in the UK today and are generally viewed as one of the more challenging styles of houses to retrofit.  

Professor Pete Walker at the University of Bath, and project lead, said: “It is not enough to simply implement design solutions, we need to create comfortable liveable homes that are resilient to climate change and will withstand future weather events. Our design process will embed community participation at its centre by creating spaces for co-developing knowledge, sharing experiences, and reshaping designs for Beyond Net Zero homes. 

“Our innovative solutions will use bio-based and non-extractive materials together with renewable energy supply and storage. We will explore the impact of these materials not only on achieving Net Zero design but also the potential impact on residents’ comfort and wellbeing.” 

Professor Jo Patterson at Cardiff University added: “This project evolved from a GW4 research community, and would not have been possible without the support of the GW4 Alliance. I am excited to be part of a team that will expand on that research, working with colleagues across the alliance and alongside new regional partners to transform existing housing by working with, and for, communities.” 

Retrofitting existing houses is an infrastructure priority for the UK Government, however it can be a significant design challenge. Poorly executed retrofit measures can lead to problems with damp and mold, and poor design can cause damage to building fabric and cultural heritage. 

Current retrofitting approaches rely heavily on synthetic and non-renewable materials, such as plastics and foam insulation, which can have negative environmental impacts.

Bio-based materials are derived from renewable resources, such as crops, fungus mycelium, cork and wood, and have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact. As well as environmental benefits, bio-based products and systems offer energy efficient, healthy, and sustainable improvements to existing homes. 

This project builds on the work of the GW4-funded collaborative research and innovation community, the Circular Economy of Timber Buildings. The community ran workshops strengthening collaborations between GW4 researchers and initiated collaborations with external partners and key stakeholders.

The interdisciplinary nature of this project brings together expertise from architecture, engineering, social sciences, and sustainability and will work with a range of partners; Woodknowledge Wales, The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, Mikhail Riches Architect, timber frame manufactures Sevenoaks Modular Limited, Swansea Council and WeCanMake, a community land trust based in Bristol. 

Councilor Andrea Lewis, Cabinet member for Service Transformation at Swansea Council, said: “Swansea Council is proud to continue our long-standing working relationship with Cardiff University’s Welsh School of Architecture, and the wider research team from the GW4 consortium. We are pleased to be part of this exciting new research project, which will give us the opportunity to work closely with leading academics and industry experts to provide us with a greater understanding of innovative ways to retro fit our existing stock of council homes to reduce energy and carbon emissions, and help our tenants reduce the cost of their energy bills and improving comfort and health and wellbeing.” 

Melissa Mean, Director of WeCanMake, said: “We are excited to bring our community-led approach to this project to create healthier homes in Knowle West, and we look forward to working with local people to seed a greener future through innovative retrofit methods.” 

Richard Broad, Associate Director at The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, said: “The UK faces an enormous retrofit challenge. The Beyond Net Zero project will further demonstrate the major role bio-based materials have to play in not only rapidly improving the energy efficiency of our existing housing stock but enabling comfortable and healthy homes with low embodied carbon.” 

Gary Newman, Chief Executive at Woodknowledge Wales, said: “Making the best use of the timber we grow in Wales, by transforming it into products such as high-performance timber frame systems and woodfibre insulation, will significantly help decarbonise our built environment. This project doesn’t come too early to develop solutions specific for the retrofit market and to create the relationships across the construction supply chain to implement them.” 

Charlotte Hale, Operations Director at Sevenoaks Modular, said: “Sevenoaks Modular are thrilled and excited to join forces with leading academics in the GW4 Alliance as we embark on our journey to develop a game-changing offsite construction solution. Together, we’ll push the boundaries of innovation and sustainability, leaving a lasting positive impact on the construction industry and the environment.” 

James Turner, Associate Director from Mikhail Riches, said: “We are excited to be part of this collaboration and look forward to working with the GW4 Alliance and wider team over the coming months. We have been delivering highly sustainable industry leading housing for over 20 years, and this is an opportunity to get ahead of the curve supported by research to deliver a prototype demonstrating how we can retrofit homes, using low carbon bio-based materials to create comfortable liveable homes for the future. We are looking forward to seeing where this opportunity takes us and how it might be an important step in strategies for deep-retrofit and decarbonisation of the UK’s existing homes.” 

Green Transition Ecosystems (GTEs) are large-scale projects that focus on translating the best design-led research into real-world benefits. Capitalising on clusters of design excellence, GTEs will address distinct challenges posed by the climate crisis including, but not limited to, realising net zero goals.

GTEs are the flagship funding strand of the £25 million Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition programme, the largest publicly funded design research and innovation programme in the UK. Funded by AHRC with support from the UK Government and in partnership with Future Observatory at the Design Museum, this multimodal investment aims to bring design researchers, universities, and businesses together to catalyse the transition to net zero and a green economy.  

Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council said: “Design is a critical bridge between research and innovation. Placing the individual act of production or consumption within the context of a wider system of social and economic behaviour is critical to productivity, development and sustainability.  

“That’s why design is the essential tool for us to confront and chart a path through our current global and local predicaments, and that’s why AHRC has placed design at the heart of its strategy for collaboration within UKRI. 

“From health systems to energy efficiency to sustainability, these Green Transition Ecosystem projects put the UK at the cutting edge of design, offering models for problem solving, and will touch on lives right across the UK.” 

Dr Allan Sudlow, Directors of Partnerships and Engagement at Arts and Humanities Research Council added: “Design innovation is crucial to the mission of decarbonising our economy and society by 2050, and it is via exceptional design thinking that we can bring human, social and scientific research and innovation together to achieve this.” 

The project will run for 24 months and aims to deliver a green transformation, fostering a legacy of positive behaviour change, supporting local and regional supply chains, and strengthening local delivery capacities.  

The project team will communicate their research findings through educational and wider community engagement, in partnership with the Future Observatory, and will develop and deliver training to reduce the design skills gap in retrofitting. 

July 13th 2022 – How to retrofit walls externally with natural insulation

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‘How-to’ event introducing the use of natural insulation as a solution to the external insulation of walls.

About this event

The UK has 28.5m homes, and some of the oldest homes in Europe. Wales has 1.35m or 5% of UK homes and almost a third were built before 1919. Most are of solid wall construction and nearly half of them have no wall insulation.

This has to change. But insulating walls externally in a way that protects both the health of the occupants and the building is not straightforward. The purpose of this ‘how-to’ event is to introduce the use of natural insulation as a solution to the external insulation of walls.

Audience: Housing development and asset management professionals, architects, contractors, students

Format: Online (via Zoom)

Speakers: Nick Heath (NDM Heath Ltd), Mark Lynn (Thermafleece), Simon Ayres (Lime Green)

PROGRAMME

10.00 What are the challenges of internal wall insulation? – Nick Heath (NDM Heath Ltd)

10.30 How does natural insulation help? – Mark Lynn, Thermafleece & Chair of the Natural Fibre Insulation Group

11.00 How do you install it? – Simon Ayres, Lime Green

11.20 Q&A

11.30 Close

This event is part of Trawsnewid Menter Pren | Transforming Timber Enterprise – an event series providing inspiration, knowledge and skills for a zero-carbon built environment.

The transformation to zero carbon creates new and exciting opportunities for both business and skills development. Our aim in this series of expert led events is to inspire organisations in general and young people in particular to better understand and embrace the opportunities presented by the rapid transformation to a zero-carbon built environment. These ‘how-to’ events cover essential aspects of both new build and retrofit, and major on the better understanding of the use of timber products and the forests from which they are produced.

REGISTRATION

This online event is free to attend but you must register via Eventbrite HERE.

Event details

Date: 13/07/2022

Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am