Earlier this Autumn, the HEM Architects studio had the pleasure of visiting The Burrows, an earth-sheltered self build Passivhaus on the Sheffield / Barnsley border.
Designed for Peter and Joanne, the home is now close to completion. They’ve been living there for around twelve months and seeing the house occupied was really inspiring, giving us a real sense of how the home has supported their lifestyle and wellbeing.
A project worth the wait
HEM Architects began working with Peter and Joanne in early 2012 to design a home that could meet the exacting standards required for planning under NPPF Paragraph 55, now Paragraph 84.
Planning permission was secured on the first attempt in September 2012, making The Burrows the first home of this kind approved in South Yorkshire. After a pause, the technical design was completed in 2014, and Peter, with help from his brother, has been largely responsible for building their forever home over the past decade.
An innovative home that prioritises comfort and health
Peter and Joanne wanted to downsize to a home that would would prioritise their comfort, health, and long-term happiness. The sloping green belt site demanded a design sensitive to the landscape, so our design was for the home to be partially earth sheltered.
This approach means that it blends neatly into its surroundings, while offering generous, light-filled spaces and striking views over the valley. The design has also enabled Joanne to embrace her love of horses, with stables on the plot making it much easier to look after and ride her horses.
The Burrows has a floor area of 169 m², demonstrating that homes do not need to be large to be exceptional. Sitting on the Sheffield / Barnsley border, the project also required planning approval from both local authorities, adding an extra layer of complexity to the process.
Living in a low energy home
The Burrows performs exceptionally well, with an annual heating demand of just 14 kWh/m², around 85% lower than a typical new build.
This is possible through expert design and construction. Excellent airtightness, high high-quality insulation, triple glazing, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery create a space that is warm, bright, and comfortable with minimal energy bills.
Peter and Joanne shared how the home has already transformed their daily life, making it “easy” and enjoyable to live in.
Looking ahead
Visiting The Burrows was an inspirational experience for the studio. Like many Paragraph 84 projects, it has been a long journey from planning approval to near completion, taking over a decade to reach this stage.
Seeing Peter and Joanne’s passion for the home and the way it has improved their wellbeing was incredibly rewarding.
We look forward to returning once the build is fully complete and, fingers crossed, when the home achieves full Passivhaus certification.
Architecture: HEM Architects
Structure: Arup Sheffield
Ecology: SLR Consulting
MVHR: 21 Degrees
Windows: Norrsken
Zinc: VMZINC
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