Built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), Hanham Hall was the first large-scale volume housebuilder scheme in England to meet the 2016 zero-carbon standard. The Barratt Homes development created 185 new homes on a 3.8ha site formerly occupied by a psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Bristol. HTA Design’s project included the renovation of the Grade II*-listed Hanham Hall itself, which has been repurposed for community use. The extensive grounds have been regenerated to increase biodiversity as well as providing playspaces, greenhouses and allotments. Architect's voice Our first challenge was achieving the zero-carbon standard for all homes. Leading with fabric-first construction, structural insulated panels (SIPs) formed walls and roofs, providing excellent thermal performance, airtightness and speed of construction. Utilising SIPs led to considerable benefits compared with a standard onsite masonry approach. Combined with photovoltaic panels and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems, the homes minimise energy use and cost. Simple passive design solutions support comfort and usability year-round. All homes meet Lifetime Homes and Building for Life standards. The development had to carefully respond to, and even enhance, the surrounding green belt fields. New biodiverse meadows and orchards were designed around existing mature hedgerows, waterways and retained mature trees, embedded as part of a site-wide sustainable urban drainage system. Simon Toplis, partner and head of architecture, HTA Design   Project data Location Whittucks Road, Hanham, Bristol Type New build Context Suburban Planning permission date November 2009 Completion 2013 Construction cost £42 million Construction cost per m² £3,700 Construction cost per home £215,000 Number of homes 185 Housing type Houses and flats Mix of homes Percentage of 1B2P: 19%, Percentage of 2B3P: 26%, Percentage of 2B4P: 9%, Percentage of 3B5P: 10%, Percentage of 4B6P: 33%, Percentage of 5B8P: 3% Site area 3.8ha Density 51.3 homes per hectare Development area 18,994m² (total), 17,006m² (residential) Height 2-3 storeys Tenure mix 65% private sale, 35% affordable Percentage of affordable housing 35% Aspect 100% dual-aspect homes Client Barratt Homes Client type Housebuilder Architectural appointment Direct appointment Procurement Design and build Design or Quality Review Panel review No Design team novation Yes Lead contractor Barratt Homes Main structural system Composite timber frameAdvertisement Environmental data Annual carbon emissions 10.62 kgCO2/m² Operational energy use 58 kWh/m²/yr Onsite energy generation 21% Average energy bill per home Unknown All-electric No Post-occupancy evaluation undertaken Yes U-values 0.14 W/m²K (walls, roofs and floors, area-weighted) Airtightness at 50Pa 1.50 m³/h.m² Residents' voices I love that Hanham Hall is surrounded by the wildlife-rich Avon Woods, expansive fields, and has its own wildflower meadow, allotments, orchard and beehives. Anonymous resident After a neighbour lent us a garden bed in their allotment for us to trial, gardening has become an integral part of my creative and wellbeing practice. It has also been a big part of getting to know people – and a big part of the whole ethos here of getting in touch with nature. Anonymous resident Living here feeds my fascination with nature and seasonality, allowing me to imbue my creative practice, artworks and workshops with this same curiosity and reverence. Holly