Agar Grove

Camden Council’s exemplar Passivhaus estate regeneration at Agar Grove is the UK’s largest Passivhaus housing development to date.

Replacing existing 1960s H-shaped housing blocks, and reviving an existing tower block, 500 new build and retrofit homes are being developed of which 70% will be Passivhaus certified. This leading international standard means that the homes have high comfort in winter and summer, provide healthy indoor air quality and living environments, and simultaneously reduce fuel bills and carbon emissions.

Delivered over a total of 6 phases, ongoing monitoring of performance means that each iteration is offering scope for learning and improvement for the delivery teams. The phasing for the programme has been based around a ‘single decant’ process to allow residents to stay on site and move straight into their homes once complete.

The design is deliberately tenure blind, with shared communal play areas and community facilities to help foster a cohesive community. 50% of the homes will be for market sale and proceeds will fund further investment in council homes.

Significant efforts have been made to address biodiversity and nature connectedness for residents in a high density urban environment. Landscaping includes built-in wildlife boxes, living roofs, woodland character planting, raised beds for residents with opportunity for edible planting, as well as retention of mature trees plus a walking and cycling connection to Camley Street Natural Park.