PLANS have been approved for the build of a five-home Passivhaus development in Woodend of Glassel near Banchory, Aberdeenshire.
Insch-based Coldwells Build will lead the woodland project, delivering a mix of its five-bedroom McKinley and four-bedroom Davidson designs. Each home will be independently certified to the Passivhaus Standard, described as the ‘international gold standard’ for ultra-low energy homes.
Clare Booth, director of Coldwells Build, said, “The first time I stood inside a Passivhaus, it felt different from any home I’d been in. It was quiet and comfortable, the air was fresh, and the surfaces weren’t cold to the touch. And it costs very little to heat. At Woodend of Glassel, people can experience Passivhaus living for themselves.”
The homes are prefabricated in Coldwells Build’s workshop in Insch, keeping skills, jobs and quality control in the region. They are designed by Glasgow-based John Gilbert Architects.
The planning approval comes as Scotland prepares a major shake-up of its building regulations, which would see new homes built to a ‘Scottish equivalent‘ of the Passivhaus Standard.
Ross Booth, director of Coldwells Build, added, “Scotland is about to raise the bar for every new home, so why wait? Woodend of Glassel is being built to the standard the rest of the industry is heading towards. The people who live here will have homes that are ready for the future from day one.”
Coldwells Build worked with landowners Ursula and Adrian George to bring the development forward. The couple have owned the woodland site for more than 20 years. Red squirrels dart between its mature Scots pine and silver birch, and each new home will have a private garden of up to 1,500m².
“We wanted any development to respect what makes this setting so special, while creating high-quality homes that will serve people well for generations to come. We’re delighted to be working with Coldwells Build, offering homes that combine thoughtful design with exceptional energy efficiency,” said Ursula George.
