Publication Date: 27-06-2025 09:00
Bellway supports smaller housebuilders with transition to net zero at outreach day
Bellway welcomed SME housebuilders, suppliers and other industry partners to Greater Manchester as it hosted an event to support with the transition to net zero.
It was attended by more than 30 members of The Future Homes Hub, which was set up to encourage the industry to collaborate to reduce climate impact and better support the environment.
The event was held across two locations. The first was Barton Quarter, where Bellway is building 456 homes as part of the regeneration of the former Horwich Loco Works site in Bolton. The development is home to Bellway’s award-winning training centre, The Future Hub.
Then the group visited Bellway’s Future Home within The University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0 climate chamber – an industry-leading project testing electric heating systems.
Both projects were built by Bellway’s Manchester Division to prepare for the switch to all-electric homes which will be required when the Government’s new Future Homes Standard is adopted.
Mathew McAdam, Managing Director for Bellway’s Manchester Division, said: “The successful implementation of the Future Homes Standard is crucial to the UK’s net zero project, but it involves upskilling across the entire workforce – and this is a particular challenge for SME housebuilders.
“As part of the Better with Bellway sustainability strategy, Bellway is committed to ensuring the necessary understanding and knowledge is in place at all levels, so that this major transition can be successful.
“The unique research from Bellway’s Future Home has already shown that air source heat pumps can cost as little as £1.84 a day to run at typical UK winter temperatures, while at The Future Hub we have explored the challenges involved in the installation of all-electric technologies on a live construction site.
“This event, organised in conjunction with the Future Homes Hub, was an opportunity for smaller housebuilders to benefit from the knowledge gained from these industry-leading projects. This is part of our commitment to a ‘Just Transition’ to net zero in which no-one is left behind by the changes ahead.”
The event included presentations, question-and-answer sessions and tours delivered by members of Bellway’s Group Sustainability and Innovation Team and the Bellway Manchester site team at Barton Quarter.
Attendees had the opportunity to find out about different specification options for the Future Homes Standard, including 200mm cavity walls, triple glazing, different joists to allow for ducts, MVHR and dMEV ventilation, heat pumps, underfloor heating, radiators and PV maximisation.
Adrian Oyston, from kitchen suppliers The Symphony Group, said: “We have worked closely with Bellway and seen how innovation with other technical aspects like air source heat pumps, taking a boiler out of the kitchen environment, give us more space, but are there other technical aspects which then impinge on our ability to install a kitchen, which has been pointed out today, like pipework, so it’s a good learning curve.
“All suppliers to the industry have to work together to meet environmental targets and also make sure that what we think is a good idea doesn’t cause problems for other trades. That’s really important.”Matthew Ing, from SME housebuilder Skipton Properties, said: “The day has helped me get a greater understanding of what the Future Homes Standard means and how Bellway are tackling it. As an SME housebuilder obviously we can learn from what Bellway is doing and that’s going to be beneficial for us.
“What stands out is the way they’re presented, as a standard house, which is what you want. You want to get the benefits of the more sustainable property without someone walking in and seeing features that are standing out. There’s probably more certainty from buyers about gas boilers than air source heat pumps, so it’s making sure they don’t detract from the house.”
Christopher Gaze, Associate at The Future Homes Hub, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Bellway is choosing to reach out to the SME community and sharing its knowledge. It is important that we work together as an industry if we are to roll out the Future Homes Standard to the volume of homes that the Government wants, and create the kind of homes that people will want to live in.”
To find out more about Bellway’s commitment to carbon reduction, visit https://sustainability.bellwayplc.co.uk/.
