Our homes were built in two phases: the first 23 homes were ready for occupation at the end of 2019 and a further three flats at the beginning of 2023. Our first phase houses and flats are certified to the internationally recognised Passivhaus Standard – think triple glazing, thick insulation and a mechanical ventilation system with high levels of heat recovery, all leading to exceptionally low energy bills. In the second phase, we created three more flats by converting Cannock Mill House, a locally listed Victorian house at the entrance to our grounds. Despite not being a new build, the flats benefit from air sourced heat pumps, photovoltaic cells and levels of insulation and ventilation control similar to the earlier homes.
Houses
We have 17 houses, some three-storey, some two, and some with integral garages. The interiors of all the houses are light and spacious with living areas on the top floor to take full advantage of their southerly aspect. Several people use their garages as studios or offices – a boon to those working from home.
‘I see the sunrise from my bed in the morning, have lunch on my sunny balcony and fresh air circulates through the house throughout the year. But above all I enjoy a peaceful sense of wellbeing from the light and airy rooms, their bamboo floors, the natural wood staircase and thoughtful layout.‘
‘Our Passivhaus is not only wonderful to live in, but our heating costs less than our Wifi!‘
‘Moving into my two-bedroomed house was an adventure and a challenge! I have enjoyed finding creative solutions for storage, and using the shared facilities to store my bike, gardening tools, etc has certainly helped. I love the practical, modern design of my house, especially its eco-friendly paintwork and complete absence of MDF.‘
Flats
The six one- and two-bedroom flats are clustered around the mill pond with floor areas varying between 52 – 62 square metres. And all have close views of our pond – a splendid place to take a break from work!
‘The high ceilings in my flat give me a feeling of space and with the windows closed it is virtually soundproof, so I can play my music at full volume. But I try to open my front door quietly in the morning so that I don’t startle the wildlife on the pond.‘
A second phase of development
The ‘Millers House’ is divided into three energy-efficient two-bedroom flats that have the same high standards of finish as the other homes.
