Gedling Green is a 33-home residential development by Keepmoat Homes, located in Gedling, Nottinghamshire, on the site of the former Gedling Colliery. Once one of Britain’s largest coal mines, the area has been transformed into a pilot project for the Government’s Future Homes Standard, a policy aiming to ensure that all new homes are ‘zero carbon ready’ from 2025 onwards.
The development is the first private housing project in the UK to trial the standard. It comprises a mix of traditionally built two-, three- and four-bedroom homes constructed using concrete block and brick masonry. Each home is designed to significantly reduce operational carbon through the integration of modern low-carbon technologies. Key features include air-source heat pumps provided by Panasonic, rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, underfloor heating systems and Mixergy smart hot water cylinders. These systems work in tandem to optimise energy use, store excess solar generation, and deliver improved thermal comfort. Collectively, they enable the homes to achieve up to a 91% reduction in carbon emissions compared to 2013 Building Regulations.
A central component of the project’s low-carbon approach was the local sourcing of construction materials. Plasmor Ltd supplied the concrete blocks from its site in Heck, Yorkshire, located just 18 miles from Gedling Green, helping to minimise emissions associated with transportation. The homes were built using Aglite Ultima blocks, a lightweight concrete block manufactured using Plasmor’s expanded clay aggregate. These blocks offer excellent thermal insulation properties, contributing to improved airtightness, reduced cold bridging and enhanced overall energy efficiency. Their lighter weight also allowed for faster and more efficient handling on site, improving construction speed and reducing manual handling risks.
To assess performance and ensure compliance with the standard, Birmingham City University is conducting ongoing monitoring of the homes, including energy consumption, indoor air quality and user comfort. Early results have been positive, with one resident reporting monthly energy bills of just £50, a notable decrease compared to their previous property.
Gedling Green demonstrates how a fabric-first approach, combined with established masonry methods and modern building technologies, can meet and exceed the performance criteria of the Future Homes Standard. The project also highlights the importance of local manufacturing and the role of thermally efficient concrete products in delivering sustainable housing at scale.