Driving down an old bridle path in Hanslope near Milton Keynes, the path is lined by stunning barn conversions, and over the years, what was farmland and rundown buildings has gradually been transformed into idyllic countryside living.

At the very end of the road you find Cedar Barn and on the face of it, it’s pretty much like the other buildings, which is exactly what the builder, Deluxe Developers, hoped to achieve – a Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 house that blends in with its surroundings, is sympathetic to the countryside and uses materials that look like they have been reclaimed rather than sourced from new.

This will be the first Code Level 6 and Passivhaus home under Planning Policy section D1 (Impact of development proposals on the locality) emphasizing even more the uniqueness of this new home . NHBC has worked closely with the developer to provide Buildmark warranty and building control on the property, as well as specialist energy consultancy to help achieve the project’s incredibly high eco targets.

Cedar Barn is designed to be an example to the building industry and homebuyers that green energy and largely fossil free and sustainable construction is now achievable as a viable, commercial proposition. The key technologies incorporated in the construction during 2014 include:

• 14.5 kw array of inroof solar panels
• exceptional level of insulation and fabric
• Passivhaus air tightness to 0.6
• mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) to 92% efficiency
• ground source heat pump to underfloor heating
• triple glazing
• secure by design site certification
• rainwater harvesting
• low CO2 production cement alternative to concrete
• fossil free oversite
• lighting control systems
• cat 6 networking & 4k ultra HD tv distribution system
• heating automation system
• summer cooling

In order for these technologies that combine electrical energy, thermal energy, ventilation and insulation to perform to their optimum; state-of-the-art control systems have been installed. This enables all the systems to be reviewed and recorded on an hour-by-hour basis, with every technology within the house controlled from a mobile phone or tablet.

An analysis of the parameters and performance of Cedar Barn systems will be available later this year but already it’s achieved over 154% improvement in Building Regulation Part L1A 2010 and zero net CO2 emissions. Cedar Barn is currently producing nearly three times the electric it uses creating the first wave for an era of new Nil Bill housing.

For more information visit www.deluxedevelopers.co.uk