Coinciding with COP26, Mayor Sadiq Khan paid a visit to one of the UK's largest Passivhaus developments, Agar Grove Estate, to see how both social and private residents benefit from the highest green building standards.

As a "proof of concept" for large-scale Passivhaus developments in the UK, Agar Grove Estate has meaningfully tackled fuel poverty by reducing residents' fuel bills by 70%, and has influenced changes to the London Plan's approach to district heat networks. Working with architects Hawkins Brown, Mae and Architype, we are providing M&E, Sustainability and Passivhaus services for this 507-home estate regeneration scheme, which includes 345 Passivhaus homes.

Named as a prime example for how social housing can be redesigned for the future, yesterday's visit to the award-winning scheme was aired on BBC news, with the Mayor and residents speaking about their positive impressions of Agar Grove.

Flora Irani, a resident who has been living in one of the council flats since February, says: "In comparison with my previous flat, where we paid up to £100 just for electricity and gas, it is much cheaper here, as we only have two radiators for heating - and that's enough. We didn't get cold last winter."

"What we're seeing here are the best quality homes possible, excellent design, and also top environmental standards too. If you hear from the residents themselves, it has completely transformed their lives. It's beyond their wildest imaginations; they've got rooms for their kids, sometimes for the first time, they've got fantastically insulated homes - not only are they environmentally friendly, they also come with much lower fuel bills and tackle fuel poverty in the estate, too" - Cllr Danny Beales, Camden Council

Praising the "triple-glazed windows that have fantastic insulation inside", as well as the renewable energy sources the scheme uses, Mayor Sadiq Khan is impressed with the achievements of the Passivhaus standard: "What it means is that the residents have homes that are cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and bills that are 90% cheaper than in ordinary homes."