Architect and Director
Occupying the former Newbattle High School playing fields, this residential development creates a mixture of affordable housing for rent for Midlothian Council and mid-market rent units for Melville Housing Association. The first phase of ninety homes forms part of Midlothian Council’s aim to achieve net zero carbon by 2030 and is aiming for Passive House accreditation.
Our design focuses on the creation of highly energy efficient homes with low running costs for residents, which are interspersed amongst large areas of shared and public open space, private gardens and landscape spaces.
The low density nature of the scheme to suit planning requirements for the site has created Passive House challenges and we have developed a deep timber kit wall construction using engineered joists to meet the U-values required. This has been combined with a thermal bridge free design to create an extremely high performing thermal envelope. Close collaboration with the structural engineer and timber kit supplier has optimised the buildability of the envelope and maximised value for Midlothian Council.
Having developed our envelope details over a range of Passive House Projects we believe we have now optimised the timber kit design in terms of the balance between thermal performance, buildability and cost and intend to use this project as an archetype for future similar projects, bringing increased value to our clients.
A mixture of tenures is offered within the one to four bedroom homes, which are arranged in short terraces and semi-detached configurations. Prominent corners incorporate entrances, and the layout of windows provides vibrant gables, good levels of internal daylighting and helps create safe overlooked streets.
The design responds to its strategic location providing active travel links, and secure pedestrian and cycling friendly routes for residents to the adjacent housing and the wider Newbattle Abbey Green Network, providing safe routes to school for both the primary school to the north and the high school to the east.
