Revolutionising construction, one home at a time
Beattie Passive
Construction Feature
Revolutionising construction, one home at a time 2
Issue 103 ·Business Enquirer Magazine
Issue 103 · Business Enquirer Magazine
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PROJECT DIRECTED BY
WRITTEN BY
Glen Newton
Jay Benmehidi
Beattie Passive As those who have worked in construction will have likely observed, the conservative nature of the sector has made it somewhat resistant to change. Design practices have changed little in recent decades, whilst the adoption of new technologies has occurred slowly – it is an industry where caution is king. To some extent, a degree of risk aversion is understandable, bearing in mind the liabilities that developers face and the potential high cost of failure. However, in an increasingly tech-centric world where revolutionary change is taking place across seemingly all industries, the unwillingness of construction players to innovate is not only holding back the industry but also wider efforts to bring about the green revolution the world economy so urgently needs. For Ron Beattie, such failings on the part of the sector proved to be intolerable: “Over 11 years ago after the Big Crash came in 2007, I had issues like every developer did at the time. And I just thought, ‘I can’t carry on with this, we’re not building well enough or to a high enough standard. This could be done differently and better. I’ve been in the business long enough, let’s go out there and see what we can do,” he recalled. A decade has passed since Ron set out on his own to raise the bar and bring disruptive change to an industry that couldn’t change itself, and it would be safe to say that his achievements over this period have more than vindicated his decision. As the founder of what is now the UK’s leading passivhaus developer, Beattie Passive, Ron and his team are revolutionising the British construction sector, one house at a time - something he has achieved through the implantation of a complete build system that is centred around the principles of passivhaus.
Ron Beattie Managing Director, Beattie Passive
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mance modular structures far exceed the standards of traditional buildings by every metric. “When I started the company, it was all about let’s try to lift the quality of building, full stop. We look at every element we do from design right through to testing, and to someone living in that property, and see how we can make everything top level. I wasn’t focused on one element, I wanted to improve everything: I looked at fire safety and sound and buildability, as well as cost, durability and longevity. Passivhaus sets the standard for energy efficiency and performance. Just as importantly, anyone can build these structures in any country using local materials, and they are buildings that are completely reusable. This building system could change construction forever, and that’s the key to it. When I left the industry, I wanted to bring about change in every sector. There’s no point having a building system that cannot be utilised for any building shape or size. It had to be suitable for the construction of schools, offices, and homes. Additionally, it has to be capable of retrofitting existing building stock - that was always a concern to me because of the massive problem we’re facing with climate change. I’ve always been interested in our climate, and the ways passivhaus can be utilised to conserve energy.”
Regardless of whether it is building structures that are large or small in size; whether they are flats or houses, or offices, factories or schools, Beattie Passive’s highly flexible, high-perfor-
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Beattie Passive
Construction Feature
The purpose of passivhaus is simple: it dramatically reduces the requirement for heating and cooling in a space to improve energy efficiency. Whereas traditional buildings are a leading source of carbon emissions, and account for an estimated 35% of total global energy consumption, the fabric first timber frame structure used by passivhaus reduces heat loss to such an extent that passive heat sources like the sun, and even human occupants and household appliances, are sufficient to meet a significant portion of heating demand. Since the concept was first pioneered by Dr. Wolfgang Feist 30 years ago, passivhaus has grown in recognition as a tried and tested solution that is capable of delivering the net-zero-ready buildings the world so urgently needs. Whether they are new built or existing, retrofitted structures, passivhaus buildings are optimised for a decarbonised grid and designed to facilitate occupant health and wellbeing. Indeed, ensuring a high level of occupant comfort whilst using very little energy is at the heart of the methodology. Suffice to say this is industry-first stuff in the UK market. Beattie Passive’s award winning, innovative modular designs, which utilise its patented timber frame build technology, are no less revolutionary. From the company’s new Carrow Works factory in Norwich, Beattie’s 80-strong team manufacture the company’s range of Haus4 products, which includes Haus4Studios, Haus4one and Haus4two, through to one, two and three-bedroom homes. The Haus4 range offers relocatable modular homes that benefit from both the exceptional performance of passivhaus and the higher build standard that Beattie Passive properties offer. Unsurprisingly, the company has seen demand for its Haus4 range rise considerably since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, not only from homeowners but also a growing number of councils and housing associations, which are seeking sustainable housing solutions for the
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growing number of homeless in their counties, towns, and cities. “Our Haus4 range are built to a high standard at an affordable price. There has been a lot of interest from councils and housing associations that are buying these from us. We’ve just recent finished an order in Cardiff, in fact, for a reception centre for the homeless, and also just outside London, where we completed a number of one bedroom apartments.
We have got to think of housing differently. It doesn’t have to be in one location anymore. One of our buildings has already moved over two and a half thousand miles...
One of the biggest problems we’ve got, certainly in the social housing market, is that you have thousands of people in rented accommodation being placed in hotels and substandard accommodation. By buying an asset like Haus4, however, you can buy a house that you’ll have for the next 80 years, and you can simply move it around as the need comes. There are 50 families coming down to an old gas works here that will stay for six years, and it will then be moved on to another location. We have got to think of housing differently. It doesn’t have to be in one location anymore. One of our buildings has already moved over two and a half thousand miles and been 20 times on the crane and it’s still absolutely perfect.”
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Construction Feature For all its progress over the past 10 years, it is important to remember that Beattie Passive is still a young company that is very much in its infancy. As the company continues to grow and expand over the years to come, it is inevitable that, under Ron’s leadership, Beattie Passive and its team of hungry, capable people will continue to grow, continue to progress and continue shaking up the construction industry as we know it. When asked what his plans were for Beattie Passive going forward over the coming 18 months, two priorities came in at the top of the agenda: rapid expansion across the UK, and an increasing push into retrofitting the country’s existing housing stock. He concluded: “We’ve set up the first factory. We know what we can deliver, and we’re now planning to spread out across the country. We’re looking to do at least 13 factories over the next five years across the UK. We’re in discussions now to start a number of retrofit in the UK, a journey over the next year which will see us complete around 300 retrofits across London and the Midlands. And we’re also going to start doing a lot more with work with young people again. You know, all of this is about employment. We started the factory here with two people who knew what they were doing. Within two weeks, we had 25 people, youngsters that have been through a course. Within four weeks we had 45, and within six weeks we had 79 people, all trained up within Beattie Passive. That’s a sort of growth we need in the industry. The young people, 40% of those had never, ever held a hammer, but now they can build the best houses in the world.
Beattie Passive
It’s a very exciting time for Beattie Passive. Retrofit is something that is going to be huge for us and huge across the world. For the sake of our climate, it’s got to be.
It’s a very exciting time for Beattie Passive. Retrofit is something that is going to be huge for us and huge across the world. For the sake of our climate, it’s got to be.”
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Issue 103 · Business Enquirer Magazine
Issue 103 · Business Enquirer Magazine
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Beattie Passive 01953 687332 www.beattiepassive.com
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