Maesyrhandir, Newtown

A timber frame development has been completed for the county council’s new low-carbon affordable housing development at Maesyrhandir, Newtown. The development consists of 18 highly efficient, energy-performing dwellings including one three-bedroom bungalow, 11 two-bedroom houses, 3 three-bedroom houses, 2 four- bedroom houses and 1 five-bedroom house

The Unity Lime Timber Frame System was installed using PAVATEX woodfibre insulation to help combat the overheating problem and better future-proof the new dwellings against climate change. The development utilised Welsh-grown timber for the timber frame walls, insulated with PAVATEX wood fibre which allowed the council to avoid using the environmentally unfriendly blockwork and polyurethane insulation.

Sustainable Construction

The sustainable credentials of the UKs building stock needs to improve significantly. Innovations through modern methods of construction will help drive the development of climate friendly social housing, as the demand for high-quality energy-efficient homes increases.

Timber has lower embodied carbon levels than other building materials. Keeping both embodied and operational carbon low was important for this project which was part funded by the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme.

Sustainable materials in construction refer to materials that have a low environmental impact compared to traditional materials. Choosing materials that are produced locally not only helps the local economy, they also cut carbon emissions generated from transport.

Why Woodfibre?

Woodfibre is a special kind of natural insulation. The insulation is made from waste wood that is collected from various sawmills, which is heated and pressurised into insulation boards making it 100% renewable whilst being recyclable or compostable too! It is predominantly manufactured in France using cleaner nuclear or renewable power, helping to minimise the embodied carbon footprint of the manufacturing process. The manufacturing process does not include the use of added formaldehyde or any other known carcinogens and so unlike many other forms of man-made insulation, Unity Lime’s products do not off gas hazardous chemicals into the internal environment. Air quality testing within homes retrofitted with our systems have demonstrated significantly lower levels of particulates within sampled air, making the internal environment much healthier for building occupants.

Woodfibre is characterised by superior breathability, and is naturally hygroscopic allowing the controlled movement of moisture within the building fabric. It regulates moisture at safe levels to prevent it from building up within the fabric, making it an excellent choice for timber frame structures actively helping to keep timbers dry and prevent mould growth. Unlike many other insulations, woodfibre has high thermal mass, giving it excellent heat storage capacity, this contributes to keeping homes cool in summer, and warmer in winter, whilst at the same time providing excellent acoustic insulation. It is anticipated that the majority of new homes constructed in the UK today will still need retrofitting within the next 25 years to prevent overheating due to ongoing climate change