Changing the face of 21st century sustainable, affordable housing
Tillydrone Affordable Housing Programme
Client
Aberdeen City Council
Location
Aberdeen
Progress
Phased development ongoing
Tillydrone is leading the way in creating quality social housing that raises the benchmark for what is possible, through seventy new highly sustainable homes.
The background
The national shortage of affordable social housing and the elimination of fuel poverty is a key priority for Aberdeen City Council being addressed through their 2022 Housing Programme. As the largest development to meet three sustainability standards in one build and the first in Aberdeen to achieve gold standard, Tillydrone looks set to create 21st century affordable housing that is economical, sustainable, energy efficient and flexible to meet the varying needs of tenants.
The design approach
Seventy new homes will strengthen community spirit and enhance neighbourhood identities in Tillydrone, with residential streets safely shared between pedestrians and vehicles. External spaces have created a place for people to live and connect with the community, with seating areas and raised flower beds.
Fifteen percent of dwellings are fully wheelchair accessible while all support varying needs and those with additional support needs, going beyond simple wheelchair accessibility to embrace dementia friendly and barrier free design. The ever changing needs of the elderly and those with disabilities underpin every aspect of design and the need to futureproof accommodation for residents.
Digital connection will support homeworking and the building’s thermal performance will ensure residents comfort when doing so, without the hefty energy bills to match, thanks to its performance meeting Energy Savings Trust standards.
Our BIM team worked closely with the client to deliver to full BIM level 2 standards including training and clash detection to pre-empt and rectify any differences across plans, significantly reducing the risk of error arising on site.
A sustainable build
Our team designed through a holistic lens, maximising the solar gain and minimising solar losses to living spaces by orienting the buildings to a degree that provides dual or triple aspect in every property.
By being budget focused and aligning the construction approach with this, the team has broken ground quicker than anticipated.
We designed to optimise occupants comfort, creating warm healthy homes on a strict council budget, kept it simple and worked as a team. A holistic approach has been taken to everything from foundations to ceiling hoists. The level of coordination to ensure the ceiling can hold hoists alone, has been significant and unusual. We did this because that’s what the clients deserve. It proves what can be done within the constraints of social housing budgets.
Samantha McCabe
Director of Sustainability
