TALO, a specialist in ultra-low energy offsite timber housebuilding, has been appointed by Lucy Developments to supply and install its superstructures for a canalside project in the Hertfordshire village of Wilstone. The Moorings is the first scheme in a new collaboration between the firms, with additional, bigger residential sites moving through the pipeline.

Lucy Developments selected TALO to help scale production of highly energy-efficient homes while improving programme certainty, quality and cost control, compared with traditional construction for a similar outlay.

The Moorings will comprise nine two-storey properties: a blend of three- and four-bedroom terraced homes alongside two detached four-bedroom houses.

Greg Hilton, Head of Lucy Developments: "Moorings at Wilstone is an important project for us. The ability to deliver homes of this quality with much lower energy consumption in less time, is a significant advantage, both commercially and to achieve more sustainable development and construction. This is the first step in a wider partnership with TALO and we are now progressing plans for larger sites using their housebuilding solutions."

To accelerate delivery and performance, TALO will manufacture the advanced timber superstructures offsite using slow-grown Nordic timber. A fully dry fabrication and installation process will protect materials, enhance thermal performance and avoid the common problem of wet timber needing to dry out.

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The structures will be delivered to site in four phases by early summer, pre-fitted with high levels of insulation, plasterboard, timber cladding and triple glazing to enable rapid assembly. This approach is expected to make all nine homes watertight in just one week per phase, allowing earlier internal fit-out and providing greater cost and programme certainty.

In parallel with the highly insulated shell, TALO has specified a low-carbon energy strategy designed to cut running costs: a solar battery package to power hot water and electric underfloor heating, plus MVHR to improve air quality and support a healthier indoor environment.

Dr Anthony Greer, Executive Director for Corporate Strategy at TALO: "This new partnership has been created to scale ultra-low energy housebuilding. Lucy Developments has a strong ethos around sustainability, quality and the long-term performance of the homes they build. This alignment makes our collaboration a fantastic fit.

"Our offsite superstructure solution and energy strategy will enable their development team to deliver ultra-low energy homes with far greater certainty, reduced build programmes, and enhanced air tightness and energy efficiency than is typically achievable with traditional construction for the same cost.

"By using TALO's integrated solutions, Lucy can scale delivery, reduce risk and accelerate the provision of high-quality family homes to help meet the serious shortfall in new housing."

Lucy Developments is a long-established, sustainability-focused housebuilder and developer delivering homes for both market sale and affordable tenures.

The Moorings is the first of several planned sites and forms part of Lucy's intention to make TALO its preferred construction solution for ultra-low energy family housing.

The homes were designed by architects Lewis and Hickey, with technical rationalisation carried out by Trower Davies. The design takes cues from local village architecture and maximises canal views, featuring metal roofing, dark-stained timber cladding, red and buff brickwork, large triple-glazed windows, projecting bays and first-floor balconies overlooking the water.

TALO brings together proven offsite technology from Finland with advanced design and manufacturing processes to deliver ultra-low energy homes. The company partners with housing providers, architects, housebuilders and residential developers across the UK to boost productivity, cost efficiency, quality and sustainability in the delivery of ultra-low energy, low-rise homes for market sale, private rent, shared ownership and affordable housing.