Choose your favourite Coldwells Build Passivhaus design, and we’ll manage the planning permission, manufacture, delivery to site and full assembly. In days you’ll have an externally complete, weathertight home – all ready for your team to start the interior.
You Build: Explained
A quick walk-through from Coldwells Build founder, Clare Booth. Here, she explains how we help deliver the world’s most energy-efficient, healthy homes, before handing over to your trusted team of tradespeople.
Partner with a leader in green homebuilding
To help you decide between our You Build or Coldwells Build service, we’ve itemised each stage of the construction process.
Building your own home is complicated. As award-winning master builders with a Passivhaus accredited workforce, we understand the process better than most. Our simple 10-step guide clarifies what's covered in our You Build service, so you’re able to see how we approach each project and deliver on target.
Orders are placed for high-performance windows and external doors
You appoint a local main contractor to manage and quote for all parts of the project outside the boundaries of our You Build service (for example, site prep, foundations, internal fit out)
Or, if you have the time, a good grip of your finances and excellent planning skills, this is the point where you’ll need to employ your own subcontractors and manage the build yourself
We share engineer-stamped construction drawings with your main contractor
You get a construction programme, which breaks down trades required on site and when
Your main contractor begins site prep, including demolition, groundworks, foundations, etc.
We liaise with you and your main contractor to discuss delivery dates for your Passivhaus
We bring your prefabricated Passivhaus to site. It arrives as a set of fully insulated and airtight closed wall panels, with cladding, windows and doors all pre-installed
In days, our highly-skilled team cranes the wall panels into position, along with floor and roof cassettes, to create a complete timber frame structure
The roof finish is applied and your Passivhaus is complete externally
An interim airtightness test is conducted
We walk through your home and hold an induction session with you and your main contractor to communicate key requirements for working in a Passivhaus
Your contract with Coldwells Build concludes at this point. However, we’ll stay engaged throughout the construction phase to provide specialist advice and support
You (and your main contractor) take control of the internal fit out
You’ll receive a comprehensive list of material and product recommendations carefully selected by our design team
If preferred, we can supply certain materials – for example, engineered wood flooring, tiles, door sets, which have been chosen in keeping with the Coldwells Build Passivhaus aesthetic
Plumbing, heating, electrics, kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, ventilation, decorating are installed & a final airtightness test conducted
If desired, we can organise an independent Passivhaus certifier to confirm your home meets the world-leading standard. You’ll get a plaque to display on your home to prove its low-energy credentials.
If you have experience in construction or self-build project management, our You Build service could be the ideal option. As award-winning builders we’re happy to share our knowledge and partner with you. In the table below, we cover the questions we are most frequently asked.
For an estimated price of each Coldwells Build Passivhaus, please view the design range.
The prefabricated panels used in the Coldwells Build Passivhaus are built in accordance with a structural engineer’s design and are accompanied by a Structural Engineers Register (SER) certificate. This confirms that your Passivhaus meets all the required structural standards and is sufficient to do the job asked of it. It covers all elements of the build, including the foundations.
Modern Methods of Construction: Our panels are manufactured in our Aberdeenshire workshop under controlled conditions. The quality of each panel is checked and signed off at various stages before being delivered to site as a set of fully insulated closed wall panels, with cladding, windows and doors pre-installed.
Passivhaus Certification: Our designs exceed UK building regulations and are eligible for Passivhaus certification – the global gold standard of energy-efficient construction.
To qualify as a Passivhaus, your home must undergo a strict compliance process, with an independent Passivhaus certifier. They check the architectural drawings, they check what’s built on site and ensure it matches the design accurately.
These steps add up to a robust quality assurance process, much more rigorous than the typical building regulation inspections. Designers and builders remain vigilant knowing their work will be checked and verified throughout .
When the certifier is satisfied all criteria are met, you receive an official Passivhaus plaque. This can be fixed to your home to prove its world-class qualifications. It provides certainty and confidence that you’re living in an exceptionally built, low-energy home that performs exactly as it's been designed.
You Build is an easy, economical option suited to UK self-builders. Select your Coldwells Build Passivhaus and we’ll manage planning permission, manufacture, delivery and assembly. We hand it over fully finished externally – weathertight and airtight, and leave the interior to you and your main contractor.
This covers, but isn’t limited to:
Site assessment – including ground investigation, topographical survey and reports on drainage, utilities, plot access, etc
Read our manual, You Build: Supply & Assemble. It provides a step-by-step guide to our You Build service covering – budgeting, plot finding, planning permission, finance, on site construction and more.
To qualify as a Passivhaus in the UK your home must undergo a strict compliance process with an independent third party: the certifier.
The certifier provides impartial verification that all Passivhaus criteria have been met. They check the design drawings and calculations in the PHPP software, they check what’s built on site and ensure it accurately matches the design.
This process is much more rigorous than the typical building regulation inspections and represents the best interests of the homeowner. Designers and contractors are vigilant knowing their work will be checked and verified throughout.
Once it’s confirmed your home meets the criteria, you receive an official Passivhaus plaque. This can be fixed to your home, proving its low-energy credentials and potentially boosting its market value.
For more information about the certification process read our manual, ‘Passivhaus: Explained’
No. Passivhaus certification isn’t included with our You Build service. However, we can arrange this for an additional cost.
Typically the wall, roof and floor elements in a Passivhaus should aspire to a U-value between 0.10 W/m².K to 0.15 W/m².K. The Coldwells Build Passivhaus eclipses this, with a market-leading U-value ranging from 0.085 W/m2.K to 0.09W/m2.K. When it comes to energy-efficient construction, it doesn’t get better than this.
No. We’re able to zero rate the VAT when using our You Build service, helping with your cash flow.
Coldwells Build founder, Clare Booth addresses the initial cost differences and explains the long-term savings and benefits of building a Passivhaus.
If you want to explore customisations, we’ll be happy to assist. All we ask is that you understand this will inevitably add time, money and additional complexity to your project. The Coldwells Build Passivhaus is predesigned, so the layout, engineering and Passivhaus modelling have mostly been taken care of. The designs are tried-and-tested to meet Passivhaus certification criteria and draw upon well-planned layouts and established manufacturing methods, refined over many years. Sticking to these designs means you can count on the quality of your finished home and keep the build time and costs as low as possible.
Of course, you can make some minor adjustments to the design. But big changes that need re-engineering or affect the manufacture of the Coldwells Build Passivhaus aren’t possible without a redesign. It’s all possible, but this redesign would then fall under our Custom Build service.
Yes. Before you start building your Passivhaus, you’ll need full planning permission from your local council. Each council has its own planning policies, as well as national policies which apply locally. Decisions on whether to grant planning permission are based on these. At Coldwells Build, our experienced team will act as your agent, working to maximise your chance of success.
Thermally modified timber cladding in your choice of colour
High-performance, triple-glazed windows
External doors with triple glazing, additional locking points, specialist hinges and extra seals
Roof finish
Referrals can be incredibly helpful if you have friends or family who’ve previously built their own home. The Federation of Master Builders ‘Find a Builder’ directory has a list of reputable, local main contractors. Those with a strong presence online normally have great customer service and are happy for their clients to review and rate their performance. Other useful things to look out for are a recently updated website, social media or online videos showcasing their previous work.
Your Passivhaus will arrive on site as a set of fully insulated and airtight closed wall panels, with cladding, windows and doors all pre-installed. In 7-14 days, our highly-skilled team cranes the wall panels into position, along with floor and roof cassettes, to create a complete timber frame structure. The roof finish is applied and your Passivhaus is complete externally.
Coldwells Build is accountable for driving and coordinating the first stage of your project, including planning permission, manufacture, delivery and assembly of your Passivhaus.
Most clients appoint a main contractor to manage and quote for the parts of the project outside the boundaries of our You Build service, such as:
Foundations
Groundworks
Internal fit out
Decoration
Service connections
Landscaping
Or, if you have the time, a good grip of your finances and excellent planning skills, you can employ your own subcontractors and manage the build yourself.
A main contractor manages and quotes for all the parts of the project outside the boundaries of our You Build service. They’re responsible for making sure work is delivered on time and budget. They are a respected consultant, with excellent planning, communication and leadership skills. Your main contractor will:
Prepare your site and coordinate with Coldwells Build for the delivery of your Passivhaus
Employ their trusted subcontractors (i.e. plumbers, electricians, painters, air testers) to fit out your Passivhaus once it’s erected by Coldwells Build
Order and take delivery of materials and products
Liaise with building inspectors
Supply equipment and machinery
Manage site health and safety
Pay subcontractors
We'll provide your main contractor with our comprehensive construction drawings and communicate directly with them (and you). This ensures clarity regarding roles and responsibilities, keeping everyone aligned to achieve a common goal.
Project managing your own build will save you money. However, unless you have extensive construction experience, can be extremely flexible with your time and are confident coordinating multiple tradespeople, it might not be the right option for you.
No. This work will be managed by your local main contractor. We'll supply them with our detailed construction drawings and stay engaged throughout the process to provide specialist advice and support. Once this work is complete, Coldwells Build will deliver and assemble your Passivhaus on site.
Your Coldwells Build Passivhaus will need an MVHR system and an air source heat pump to operate efficiently. We’ll provide you with a comprehensive list of product recommendations carefully selected by our team.
We coordinate delivery with our transport partner to move your Passivhaus in sections, assembling it on site with a crane. Logistics and access are reviewed during our initial site assessment. Transport costs depend on distance and number of vehicles required. We’ll provide an accurate quote once we understand your site specifics. We also handle crane hire and permits.
We will complete your Passivhaus externally, including the roof finish. After that, we’ll move onto:
Interim airtightness test: An interim airtightness test ensures your home is on track to hit the strict airtightness targets Passivhaus demands. Your main contractor will arrange a final airtightness test at the end of the build.
Induction session: Before leaving the site, we walk through your home and hold an induction session with you and your main contractor to communicate key requirements for working in a Passivhaus. However, the building process from this point on is not vastly different to a conventional home.
Contract ends: Your contract with Coldwells Build concludes and we hand the project back to you and your main contractor to complete the internal fit out. However, we’ll stay engaged throughout the construction phase to provide specialist advice and support
Passivhaus certification: If desired, we can organise an independent Passivhaus certifier to confirm your home meets the world-leading standard. You’ll get a plaque to display on your home to prove its low-energy credentials.
Once we’ve assembled your Passivhaus, you and/or your main contractor will take charge, coordinating the internal fit out.
Specialist tradespeople will be needed to install plumbing, heating, electrics, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, tiling, plastering and decoration. We’ll supply detailed construction drawings and stay engaged throughout the process to provide specialist advice and support.
Our You Build service gives you the flexibility to complete the interior to your own specification. You can choose your own kitchen, bathrooms, flooring and wall colours from your preferred suppliers.
We can also supply certain materials – for example, engineered wood flooring, tiles and door sets, which have been chosen in keeping with the Coldwells Build Passivhaus aesthetic. For a complete list of what we offer, see the What’s Included table.
Windows are central to the design language of our Passivhaus homes. Unlike traditional new-builds, the proportions specified in every Coldwells Build Passivhaus home are guaranteed to maximise the amount of natural light in every room and create a sense of continuity with the great outdoors. High performance triple glazing comes as standard – the third pane traps warmth indoors in the colder months and stops your home overheating when it’s hot outside. The spaces between each pane of glass are filled with Argon gas, which functions as an acoustic and thermal insulator. It reduces outdoor noise, prevents cold glass surfaces and eliminates condensation – warding off mould growth and keeping the atmosphere in your home a healthy one.
Good, buildable land takes time and effort to track down. To help guide you along the journey, we’ve produced a comprehensive manual, Building Plots: Trusted Advice. It’s packed with our best advice to spot areas of opportunity.
We also occasionally partner with landowners to offer ready-to-build plots in Scotland, complete with planning permission for a Coldwells Build Passivhaus—so keep an eye on our website for updates.
Coldwells Build founder, Ross Booth explains how we use the Passivhaus standard to build and deliver the world's most energy-efficient, healthy homes.
Yes. In the UK, mortgage lenders insist all new homes have a 10-year Structural Warranty. This is an insurance policy covering the finished home for 10 years from the date on the completion certificate. It’s the longest that any warranty or insurance policy can run. It’s not related to how long your Passivhaus is expected to last. We can connect you with an A rated insurer, who will help facilitate this for you.
Yes. Designed to enhance any Coldwells Build Passivhaus, our optional double garage follows the same aesthetic language as the rest of your home. With space for two vehicles, this generous addition provides the perfect space for additional storage or for projects that can’t be completed indoors.
Yes. We partner with specialist mortgage provider, Ecology Building Society, experts in funding projects that have positive environmental and social impact. On completion of your Coldwells Build Passivhaus, you’ll be rewarded with Ecology’s top discount (1.5%) off its standard variable rate. The discount is applied to the lifetime of your mortgage.
The bulk of your home’s heat is supplied by ‘passive’ sources. These include sunlight, the body heat of occupants and heat generated by household appliances – i.e. boiling the kettle, watching television, showering and cooking. In winter, a small, economical air source heat pump will also help top up warmth.
With Passivhaus, we often talk about retaining heat as much as possible, but with increasingly warmer summers, the risk of overheating is factored into the design.
The Passivhaus standard includes an overheating criterion which requires that the home, as a whole, spends less than 10% of the year at temperatures of 25ºC or above.
Whilst this is the absolute maximum requirement, the best practice is to design to 5% or, ideally, 0% above 25°C.
Three of the main issues contributing to overheating in new homes are:
Inadequate ventilation
Excess, unshaded glazing
Excess heat loss from building services such as hot water systems
The Passivhaus design software, PHPP, includes checks to limit all three of these factors to help reduce overheating risk.
Passivhaus designers must also "stress test" their designs for future climate conditions. This includes scenarios where windows can’t be opened during hot weather due to issues like pollution or nearby noise from roadwork.
While underfloor heating can technically be installed in a Passivhaus, we don’t recommend it, as it would need careful control to avoid overheating.
Living in a Passivhaus is very different from living in a conventional home. The Coldwells Build Passivhaus is so well insulated and ventilated, it maintains a 20-21ºC internal temperature all-year-round.
Step inside on a winter’s day and you’ll feel a subtle, even warmth. Even late at night, windows and bathroom tiles are comfortable to the touch. No matter how cold it gets outside, a Coldwells Build Passivhaus will keep you warm.
Yes. The Passivhaus standard requires airtight construction to perform to its potential. But this term sometimes causes confusion, with people assuming "airtight" means living in a sealed home with no fresh air. This isn’t the case. Passivhaus homes aren’t hermetically sealed. A ventilation system continually pumps fresh, oxygen-rich air to every room and you always have the option to open windows for extra ventilation if required.
In the UK, many of us live in homes that simply aren’t comfortable — often draughty, damp and prone to mould. We’ve become so used to cold, leaky homes that we often don’t think about the discomfort they cause. We just turn up the heat, consume more energy and drive up our bills further.
Passivhaus homes are different — they’re designed for maximum comfort and minimal energy use.
Passivhaus takes a ‘fabric first’ approach to energy efficiency, meaning the home's materials and components (the building fabric) do all the hard work without the need for expensive bolt-on eco technologies like solar panels.
Passivhaus homes are packed with higher quality and far greater levels of insulation than modern new builds. The insulation wraps the home like a thermal blanket, reducing heat loss in winter and keeping the interior cool in summer.
Passivhaus homes are airtight, with no gaps for cold draughts to seep in and warm air to leak out. This is achieved through the use of a continuous air barrier that envelopes the entire building – from the walls and roof, to the floors and openings. The design process identifies all potential air leakage paths, and during construction, even the smallest of these gaps are sealed using specialist tapes and adhesives. Anywhere an air leak could occur, Passivhaus makes the extra effort to plug it.
A State-of-the-art ventilation system circulates fresh air 24/7, removing indoor dust, pollen and pollutants. Asthma, eczema and hay fever sufferers should see marked improvements in symptoms. Constant air circulation means your laundry dries fast, cooking odours disappear and your bathroom never steams up.
High performance triple glazing comes as standard. The spaces between each pane of glass are filled with Argon gas, which functions as an acoustic and thermal insulator. It reduces outdoor noise, prevents cold glass surfaces and eliminates condensation – warding off mould growth and keeping the atmosphere in your home a healthy one.
The bulk of the home’s heat is supplied by ‘passive’ sources, including sunlight, the body heat of occupants and electrical appliances (i.e. boiling the kettle, watching tv). In winter, a small, economical air source heat pump will also help top up warmth. All of this combined results in a comfortable, healthy Passivhaus with hardly any heating bills.
Your home is fitted with a Passivhaus certified Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery system (MVHR). These units act as your home’s lungs – continually pulling exhaust from the most pollutant generating rooms (kitchens, bathrooms) and sucking it through a heat exchanger before carrying it to the outside and returning with fresh, filtered air. This entire operation happens silently.
How it works:
Incoming air is pre-warmed by the outgoing air, so you don’t feel any cold draughts
All the air in the home changes every 30 minutes
This prevents the buildup of dust, pollens and odours, reducing hay fever, asthma and eczema triggers
Constant air circulation means your laundry dries fast, cooking odours disappear and your bathroom never steams up
Maintenance is a breeze — just swap out the filters periodically
Careful checks on the design and the installation ensure the MVHR operates effectively and quietly
Prefabrication refers to the practice of manufacturing a home in a workshop prior to assembling it on the construction site. The home is delivered in sections, with all necessary components, including wall panels, floor and roof cassettes, windows, doors and other fixtures.
Every Coldwells Build Passivhaus is prefabricated in our Aberdeenshire workshop. Off-site construction reduces waste, time and costs. With no weather constraints, there’s no downtime or delays.
Systematic, methodical and simplified, our skilled team can guarantee build quality, air-tightness and energy efficiency. With its clean (relatively) quiet construction and speedy assembly, there’ll be minimal carbon emissions or disruption to your neighbours.
Scotland has set an ambitious target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2045, with the rest of the UK aiming for 2050. To help achieve these goals, some local councils are supporting Passivhaus projects, recognising their role in reducing carbon emissions. These councils offer incentives like faster planning approvals, waived or discounted fees and extra support during the application process. Councils which support Passivhaus projects include Midlothian, Hereford, Camden and Sutton.
We might be able to profit from surplus energy generated
We worry about the environmental and health impacts of our current winter reliance on burning wood. So, it’s great that Passivhaus dramatically reduces energy usage – and it means we could perhaps even profit from surplus energy generated by the solar PV panels included in our roof design.
Clients: Luke & Lauren Cammaert-Norris | Building the Argyle Passivhaus
3000+ Decisions – 1 Expert Solution
The Coldwells Build Passivhaus range applies 20 years of our homebuilding expertise. We've simplified the process, condensing 3000+ decisions, design choices, material selections and layouts into one convenient package – and all for a fixed price. We make Passivhaus ownership easy.
Each Coldwells Build Passivhaus is built to a fixed price, which gives you the freedom to plan with total confidence. Going over budget is the main concern for many self-builders, so we integrate cost-checks at 3 key stages to reassure you that we’re staying on track.
1.
Guide Price Upfront
We give you a guide price at the very beginning of the process, based on our classic specification for your chosen Passivhaus design. This will give you an idea upfront of how much to budget.
2.
Site-Specific Variants
We evaluate the unique factors of your plot, such as ground conditions, utility connections and site access. Once complete, we’ll adjust the price and share accordingly.
3.
Fixed & Final Costs
During our 1-2-1 consultations, you’ll choose from our selection of external finishes, including cladding and roof materials. Once these are confirmed, we’ll calculate your fixed and final price – with Coldwells Build, there are no surprises to budget for.
Healthy and Balanced – Optimised for Living
Recent studies have shown that we spend more time indoors now than ever before, thanks to the growth in flexible working. With this in mind, it makes sense to live in a home that feels healthy all year round. Passivhaus is the logical solution.
Premium insulation wraps the home like a thermal blanket, reducing heat loss in winter and keeping the interior cool in summer.
A state-of-the-art ventilation system circulates fresh air 24/7, removing indoor pollutants. Asthma, eczema and hay fever sufferers should seek marked improvements in symptoms.
Never worry about draughts, damp, mould or condensation ever again, thanks to meticulous Passivhaus design and construction.
External noise is reduced by 50% thanks to the ultra-insulated walls and premium triple glazing. Time spent indoors is calm and quiet.
Unlock Discounted Self-build Mortgages
We partner with a specialist lender, Ecology Building Society. They have extensive experience of funding projects with a positive environmental and social impact. Once your build is complete, they reward certified Passivhaus homes with a 1.5% discount off their standard variable rate.
We’re one of the only builders in Scotland with a fully-trained Passivhaus workforce who are qualified and committed to bringing world-class homes to life.
The Coldwells Build Passivhaus Panel is prefabricated off-site in our Aberdeenshire workshop. This innovative construction system guarantees a smooth project delivery. Insulation, cladding, windows and doors are already pre-installed, which means we can assemble on-site with ease.
Build it, don’t buy it and avoid the challenging housing market of expensive, draughty homes that need renovating.
02.
02.Beat Rising Prices
The cost of land, materials, construction labour and energy prices are rising. The sooner you decide building a Passivhaus is right for you, the less investment you’ll have to make.
03.
03.Future-Ready
The Coldwells Build Passivhaus range exceeds future building standards for energy efficiency, providing a future-ready, net-zero living solution.
Coldwells Build Manuals: Get Ready to Build
Our free guides on house building offer practical, real-world, expert advice. Start your journey today.
A step-by-step guide to our You Build Passivhaus service covering – budgeting, planning permission, hiring a main contractor, on site construction and more.
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Coldwells Build Manuals: Get Ready To Build
We’ve created 8 free-to-download guides packed with tips on budgeting, plot finding and self-building. Essential reading for anyone planning to build their home.
Building Plots: Trusted Advice
A self-builder's guide to finding the perfect plot, evaluating its suitability and understanding the legal considerations involved.
