Scotland's first community-owned family-sized homes built to Passivhaus Standard for affordable rent.

Completed in 2020, the Passivhaus (or Passivhoos) project was designed by John Gilbert Architects

Built by Stewart & Shields building contractors.

The homes were designed to address two key concerns raised within the Closeburn Action Plan survey in 2016.

These issues were the lack of family-sized housing for affordable rent and fuel poverty in the area.

South of Scotland Community Housing organisation (Previously Dumfries & Galloway Small Communities Housing Trust) assisted the project outcome by carrying out a housing survey during the early stages of the project. This led to the ambitious plan to build new houses to Passivhaus Standard on disused land which was 50% asset-transferred from Dumfries & Galloway Council.

Being community owned houses the tenants were chosen through an independent allocation process and successful tenants chosen on their housing needs suitability and existing connection to the local community and the rental income goes back into the Community Trust.

It is expected to cost the tenants around £300 per year for heating requirements.

Funding was received from the organisations listed below and the remainer of the project cost was delivered through a loan from the Ecological Building Society.