Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, and Deputy Mayor, Tracy Kelly, visited Barratt Developments’ concept home of the future, Zed House, on the grounds of the University of Salford.

Councillors from Salford’s Derive housing and regeneration programme also joined the tour to see how the ground-breaking innovations being explored at Zed House can support sustainable housebuilding and retro-fitting within the city. Derive is Salford’s housing division, focused on delivering quality housing at affordable rents.

The Zed house, built on the University of Salford’s campus, is the first home in the country to be built by a major housebuilder that goes substantially beyond the Future Homes Standard.

The unique zero carbon concept home showcases the future of the sustainable living in the UK. It tests and monitors the most modern sustainable technology, such as an air source heat pump, infrared panels, plaster that eliminates pollutants, a fridge that keeps food fresh for longer, heated skirting boards, air-powered showers, electric vehicle charging points, PV solar panels and battery storage.

The Zed House, built using modern methods of construction, is part-funded by Government and has been developed in partnership with over 40 leading organisations from across the housebuilding, sustainability and technology sectors, helping to broaden knowledge with lessons learnt shared across the industry.

Robert Holbrook, a local managing director at Barratt Developments, said: “It was a real pleasure to have Paul Dennett, Tracy Kelly, and the team from Derive visit the Zed House to share insight into how the housebuilding sector and local Government can work in partnership to build homes more sustainably.

“Ultimately, the aim is to find solutions that enable the industry to build high quality, zero carbon homes at scale. It is fitting that the work to lead the net zero carbon revolution is being done in Salford, which was at the heart of the industrial revolution.”

Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, added: “I’m passionate about innovation and how important it is to improve all areas of our lives and work. It was great to visit Zed House and see amazing innovation in practice. This ambitious project tackles important issues in the house building sector to ensure the delivery of quality and sustainable homes of the future. Once again it’s another example of Salford acting as a hotbed where innovation is nurtured and that’s something I’m keen to champion across the city.”