Lindum built eight energy-saving, award-winning council homes to the internationally-recognised Passivhaus standard.

The homes in Windmill Gardens, off Moor Lane in Potterhanworth, were built for North Kesteven District Council.

The Passivhaus mark means the properties are of the highest energy-efficient standard available in Europe. They’re also built to the authority’s own new CO2-sy standard for carbon and energy efficiency.

Although more expensive to build, with £1.6 million of North Kesteven District Council investment going into the development, the houses are significantly cheaper to run for the occupants.

They generally require about 75 per cent less heating than standard builds. This is because the homes achieve an extremely low level of air loss, which in turn ensures heat is retained inside. The only requirement for conventional heating is a heated towel rail.

The homes also have solar panels, with electricity from them helping cut energy costs and the excess electricity produced by each home used to heat its water.

A group of representatives from North Kesteven District Council, Lindum Group and guests gathered at Windmill Gardens on Thursday June 16 to plant a tree and install an accompanying plaque commemorating the completion of the site.

Checks were made throughout the build by the Council’s teams, Lindum Group and Passivhaus experts to ensure the homes met the Passivhaus standard. The homes are only marked with the accreditation after thorough final checks.

Achieving this required incredible attention to detail throughout every stage of the build onsite – from the specific tapes layered in order to ensure window frames are properly sealed to ensuring internal studwork remained airtight around screwheads and nails.

As well as having enhanced insulation and draught proofing, which ensure the energy demands and fuel bills are as low as possible, Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery Systems were also installed in each home.

In fact, air flow tests as part of these final checks found these eight new homes are within the top 1% results for air tightness for Passivhomes in the UK.

In February 2023, the scheme won the title of Sustainable Project of the Year at the Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards.