Multi award winning Foleshill Health Centre, the UK’s first Passivhaus healthcare building, has received its BREEAM Excellent accreditation reinforcing its credentials as one of the greenest healthcare buildings in the UK.
The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is the world’s leading science-based suite of validation and certification systems for a sustainable built environment. It looks at whole life performance for new builds, in use and refurbished buildings in residential, commercial, healthcare, community, and other public sector facilities.
“CHP are delighted to have received BREEAM Excellent certification at Foleshill, further reinforcing the sustainability credentials of this ground-breaking building.”
Eugene Prinsloo, Developments Director at Community Health Partnerships
BREEAM Excellent means Foleshill achieved a score of over 70% across the 10 assessment criteria. Exceeding the criteria for BREEAM Excellent was a key deliverable for the project from the outset, alongside the Passivhaus accreditation. The building was constructed by Portakabin using modules which were manufactured offsite and carefully adapted to deliver a passive build.
“Delivering buildings which achieve BREEAM Excellent certification is something we’re incredibly proud of. It’s another fantastic achievement for the entire team involved in the Foleshill Health Centre.”
James Pearson, Divisional MD, Portakabin
“Congratulations to the project team for getting BREEAM Excellent – the highlight is an innovation credit for exemplary low energy use which monitoring has proved over the first year.”
Peter Ranken, Director of Sustainability, Tooley Foster
About Foleshill Health Centre
Foleshill is a partnership between DHSC-owned CHP, NHS Coventry and Warwickshire with Coventry and Rugby GP Alliance (the GP tenants). Foleshill Health Centre is a two storey, 619m² building serving up to 10,000 patients in inner-city Coventry. The GP surgery has five consulting rooms and two treatment rooms.
Work began in August 2020 on 14 specially designed Portakabin modules, which were transported, assembled and watertight in three days in December 2020. The health centre was completed in June 2021 costing £3.3m capital funded by CHP. The health centre opened to patients in August 2021
Foleshill – A flagship Green NHS building
Foleshill leads the way for carbon emissions reduction in the NHS, as the first building approved by NHSE to use energy efficient Passivhaus building methods for the NHS in England. It is an example for the rest of the NHS showing what can be done using the most modern, innovative modular building methods – it is a benchmark for how health buildings can be sustainable in the future.
CHP chose the Passivhaus approach because of its overall sustainability ethos with low running costs, ultra energy efficient, and health benefits. Foleshill contributes to the GreenerNHS carbon net-zero target and supports its aim to be the world’s first net-zero national health service. Also Foleshill Health Centre has an EPC A rating (12) close to net-zero CO2. Using 21st-century technology and innovation to provide a spacious and welcoming primary care facility for patients and staff, ensures high-quality care for the local community.
Passivhaus and Sustainability features support low energy consumption
The highly insulated Health Centre is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is full of sustainable features including photo voltaic panels, no fossil fuels on-site, triple glazing, LEDs, filtered air, etc. It took only 10 months to build during the pandemic using modern methods of construction, 30% quicker than a traditional health care building.
Foleshill leads the way for carbon emissions reduction in the NHS. Energy consumption at Foleshill is equivalent to an average 4-bed house but it is four times the size. The energy consumption is less than a third of a similar size conventional health centre.
Partnership working at Foleshill
CHP are proud to work with our NHS and delivery partners on the first UK health building built to meet Passivhaus standards. This innovative, sustainable building will continue to provide high quality care for the people of Foleshill in Coventry.
Foleshill Health Centre NHS Partners: NHS Coventry and Warwickshire with Coventry and Rugby GP Alliance.
Delivery partners: Portakabin (Main contractor), Tooley Foster Architects (Passivhaus experts), AECOM infrastructure consultants and Arden Estate Partnerships Limited (development management part of gbpartnerships).
Passivhaus
Passivhaus Trust www.passivhaustrust.org.uk Video: Passivhaus explained in 90 seconds
Photography: Beth Walsh www.bethwalsh.co.uk
Drone/Timelapse: Heavy-Duty Time-Lapse www.hd-t.co.uk
