A topping out ceremony has held at the site of the St Loyes Extra Care Home Scheme in Exeter to mark the project milestone. Contractor Kier was joined by members of Exeter City Council to celebrate the occasion.
Doug Lloyd, operations director at Kier Regional Building Western & Wales, said: "We are extremely proud to be working with Exeter City Council to build the UK's first passivhaus standard care home. Topping out of the main structure is an important milestone for St Loyes Extra Care Scheme that is set to provide comfortable living space with low energy costs for its residents when it opens and provide longevity as the building will adapt to predicted weather conditions.
"Working with our local supply chain, we will spend the coming months completing the building ready for opening in autumn. During this time, we will continue to engage with the local community and showcase all that this building will have to offer residents of Exeter for years to come."
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The £9.8 million development off Topsham Road will comprise of 53 apartments that have been carefully designed to meet the needs of its residents, the elderly and those requiring dementia care. The five-storey building will also include lounges, dining rooms, hobby spaces including a library, as well as a salon and spa treatment room.
The passivhaus care home is set to open in autumn this year and the building's internal environment will provide unique heat, air and water features for optimum comfort as well as being energy efficient. As part of Exeter Council's climate strategy, and utilising Exeter University's PROMETHEUS weather data up to 2080, the new passivhaus care home will adapt to changing weather climates – from rising temperatures to storms.
Council Leader Phil Bialyk commented: "We've reached a key milestone in the construction of this amazing building and I couldn't be more pleased.
"Exeter is committed to becoming a Net Zero Carbon city by 2030, and the Council is leading by example, constructing both new council housing and other developments to super energy efficient standards.
"That is important in lifting people out of fuel poverty, and it’s also important in reducing carbon emissions as we work towards our ambitious target of becoming a Net Zero carbon city by 2030."
Alongside St Loyes Extra Care Home, Kier is also delivering St Sidwell's Point to a passivhaus standard as its supports Exeter City Council's aims to become a Net Zero Carbon city by 2030.
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