Largest net-zero retirement community in England has been successfully built

In the heart of Doncaster, Housing 21 has recently completed the construction of Patent House and Patent Walk, a groundbreaking Retirement Living complex that sets a new standard for sustainable housing.

Located off Cooke Street, the scheme consists of 20 homes, a mix of eight two-bedroom bungalows and a three-storey building with six one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments, all available for social rent.

The homes were built offsite at M-AR's factory in Hull and follow Housing 21's 'low carbon specification' to meet the Future Homes Standard and 2050 net-zero targets. Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery has been implemented in the Patent House and Patent Walk homes, along with water heaters with integrated air source heat pumps. Solar panels have also been installed on the roof of the complex, harnessing the power of renewable energy.

Tony Tench, deputy chief executive at Housing 21, stated that the objective for the Patent House and Patent Walk development was to provide an affordable Retirement Living complex and achieve net zero operational carbon. The year-long program that has been put in place will monitor the energy use of the new homes, comparing it to a traditionally built scheme to gather data for future net zero homes.

Residents of Patent House and Patent Walk will have access to facilities at another Housing 21 scheme, Minden Court, which includes a renovated communal lounge and extensive open-plan gardens featuring outdoor seating. Minden Court is situated adjacent to Patent House and Patent Walk.

For electric vehicle (EV) owners, EV charging points have been provided for residents of Patent House and Patent Walk. The scheme received funding from Doncaster Council and Homes England to provide housing for people aged 55 and over.

Marc Najera took the image of the Patent House and Patent Walk complex, showcasing its modern, sustainable design. The Patent House and Patent Walk scheme is England's largest net-zero volumetric modular Retirement Living scheme, marking a significant step towards a more sustainable future for retirement housing.