New Eco Home Manufacturing Facility Underway In Welshpool – A First For Wales

The construction of the first complete Passivhaus manufacturing facility in Wales is underway in Welshpool to build hi spec, energy efficient homes capable of cutting heating bills by up to 90%. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PYC Construction and Insulation, a family business, is building the 600 m2 factory on a 1.4 acre site purchased from the Welsh Government at Buttington Cross Enterprise Park. The investment is backed by the Wales Economic Growth Fund and will create nineteen new jobs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Passivhaus is the world’s fastest growing quality assurance standard for low energy buildings. Developed in Germany 20 years ago, the Passivhaus standard has seen exponential growth in the UK over the last few years and is now accepted as the standard for all new houses built by Exeter and Norwich Councils. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The benefits of Passivhaus include: 90% reduction in heating bills and carbon emissions; great improvements in healthy fresh air quality, comfort levels and productivity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PYC Construction and Insulation, founded in 1993 by brothers Jasper and Ben Meade, currently operates from converted farm buildings at the family home at Meifod. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They are now taking their business to the next level at the new, purpose designed factory. Here their houses can be pre-fabricated off-site, minimising weather disruptions and onsite delays, resulting in shorter build times, increased productivity and reduced waste. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The new facility – a first for Wales – is a welcome addition to the construction industry which is one of our key economic sectors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Sustainability is at the heart of Passivhaus construction and this house building system can not only create affordable, comfortable homes but can also help reduce fuel poverty and cut carbon emissions and support Welsh Government targets. I am delighted support from our Economic Growth Fund is enabling this investment to go ahead, helping PYC develop and grow its business, while creating skilled jobs in the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PYC has already employed an architect and architectural technician and now offer a complete design and build service. This turnkey service will help social housing providers, councils, community land trusts and housing associations as well as the self-build market to provide high specification homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Director Jasper Meade said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is an exciting time for our business and we appreciate the support from the Welsh Government which was fundamental in enabling us to take the business to the next level. Our company has built up considerable knowledge and experience of Passvihaus systems, insulating with Warmcel many of the first PH offices, schools and colleges and houses in the UK, such as Canolfan Hyddgen, Machynlleth and UEA Enterprise centre, Norwich. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are passionate advocates of the benefits of Passivhaus building and want to promote it as a sustainable and affordable option for all housing. Our new facility means we will be able to expand, bring all the work in-house, target new markets and create new jobs setting the route forwards for the delivery of these buildings.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​