Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned en masse

On 21 May 2025, Barratt Homes London announced its new Lo-E Homes initiative which aims to optimise high density, sustainable housing and exceed current building regulations.

The concept has been created by a team of experts, including Passivhaus designers and building physicists Beyond Carbon, with key components including carefully engineered facades to limit heat from solar gain; triple-glazed Passivhaus windows for thermal comfort, and climate resilient air tempering to fully filter air and improve air quality, aiming to be climate resilient and account for future heatwave conditions.

The developer is aiming to submit plans for an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two upcoming developments in High Barnet and Acton. With both developments being delivered in partnership with Places for London (the property arm of Transport for London). On 20 May, 2025 Craig Carson, Managing Director at Barratt West London, commented on the new Barratt housing programme:

“Our Lo-E Homes concept is an opportunity to think differently and deliver a new approach to high-density, sustainable housing in London. This is a significant milestone for the business, as we look to the future and consider the unique challenges faced in the capital, such as more heatwave conditions every few years. Feedback from local councils and the GLA has been supportive, so we look forward to securing planning approval and moving ahead with our first homes, before rolling out on all future London schemes, subject to relevant approvals.

Craig Carson continued: “I am particularly pleased that we are planning to unveil the first Lo-E Homes across two significant partnership sites – High Barnet and Bollo Lane, as part of the West London Partnership we have with Places for London. Partnership working is vital in addressing London’s acute housing crisis, and through collaboration and a shared vision, we can achieve greater outcomes for our residents and the surrounding communities.”

Attzaz Rashid, Head of Design at Barratt London and the lead for the Lo-E Homes initiative also commented “Our ambition with Lo-E Homes is to deliver homes that don’t just meet standards but meaningfully surpass them. This initiative reflects our deep commitment to innovation in housing and climate resilience. Lo-E Homes represent a new benchmark in high-density design, fusing functionality, sustainability, and comfort at scale.”

Whilst Dr Joel Callow, Founding Director at Beyond Carbon, who worked on the new initiative said “The Lo-E Homes concept by Barratt London is far ahead of the curve: a genuine exemplar, which exceeds both current and future legislation, ensuring the homes are future-proofed long before the first spade is in the ground. There is currently no firm commitment from any other volume housebuilders, that we are aware, to deliver certified Passivhaus at this scale. Barratt London is pushing the sustainability envelope as a genuine leader, paving the way for volume housebuilders to address future housing needs and demonstrating innovation in the sector. London is fast becoming a hub of Passivhaus excellence, with Lo-E Homes playing a significant role. In simple terms, thanks to the gold-standard Passivhaus specification, they are as good as it gets.” (source London.TV 20 May 2025)

The High Barnet scheme is planned for delivery through a West London Partnership, a £1.9bn collaboration between Barratt London and Places for London. It aims to see more than 4,000 new homes built over the next 10 years, with the new site at High Barnet station to deliver approximately 300 new homes alongside small-scale commercial uses, and a target of 40% affordable homes. A planning application is now expected to be submitted to Barnet Council this spring. This could pave the way for work to start on the site early next year, with the first residents moving into the new flats in 2029. (source Barnet Borough Times, 8 March 2025)

The second phase of Bollo Lane, a development also being delivered through the West London Partnership, will see 455 Passivhaus certified homes delivered. The entire 900-home development near Acton Town Tube station will feature new green spaces as well as improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities and new commercial opportunities for local businesses. (Places for London, Bollo Lane)

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