Reshaping the Future of Sustainable Homes

The Problem

The UK is grappling with multiple housing crises:  a lack of adequate, affordable homes, inefficient land use, the climate emergency, and layouts that haven’t changed in over 130 years. Attempts to rectify this often lead to senseless demolition, community displacement, carbon emissions,  and maximum profit extraction.

A solution for a housing crisis

The Greenest House aims to break this cycle. With 80% of 2050’s buildings already in place, our model demonstrates that preserving and renewing existing housing stock isn’t just possible; it’s urgent. By working with what we already have, we can generate social, economic, and environmental benefits for everyone.

“After all, the Greenest House is the one thats already there.”

The Benefits

Greenest House offers a solution that benefits all. Existing thriving communities are not uprooted and disrupted, but strengthened. Existing buildings are upgraded to better than new with specially selected materials and components, minimising the environmental impact from construction and energy consumption in use. And since we do not extract any profits, we can create a sustainable economic model that allows the process to continue and rolled out at scale.

Community

In the past, regeneration projects have often forced whole communities to move. Our approach avoids demolition so nobody needs to move.

Renew

Each house benefits from upgrades with materials specifically chosen to compliment the existing building fabric.

Environmental

An environmentally conscious process for redevelopment and energy efficiency benefits us all.

Economic

Economic benefits are lower energy bills for the occupants and well paid work for manufacturers of sustainable materials.

Our approach

Our approach is focused on what is already there, improving this in a way that makes sense for the environment, and make sure that all participants benefit. Greenest House is not only focused on creating an environmentally sustainable model, but also an economically sustainable model, so that we can make change on a larger scale.

‘‘By increasing the value of existing houses, we can invest in a shared more sustainable future.”

The challenge

4.3 Million

442,000

80%

6.7 Million

Shortfall of homes in the UK

New homes required yearly

Of pre 1930s homes in England & Wales are below EPC Rating C

Households in the UK who live in fuel poverty

Source:Centre for Cities report ‘The housebuilding crisis: The UK’s 4 million missing homes’, February 2023

To make up for the 4.3 million shortfall in the next 25 years. This rises to 654,000 per year if we want to tackle the problem in the next decade

Source: Office for National Statistics report ‘Energy efficiency of housing in England and Wales: 2023’, November 2023

Source: National Energy Action estimate, January 2025

Current housing stock layout

The Victorian terraced house varies in size, but the organisation is the same. The main building, often with a bay window, towards the street, and a smaller outrigger towards the rear garden. The original layout was created for the social norms of the Victorian and offers an outdated way of living. Now we want a connection with the garden, a social way of cooking, openness and flexibility in the way we use the house.

Original house with one residential unit

Greenest House layout

Extending terraced properties is relatively commonplace and so is splitting the house, converting it into flats. The standard type of conversion has a drawback. The largest flat, which is suitable for a family, is usually the top of the house, with no access to the garden. Greenest House creates a new solution by inserting an extra stair, where the ground floor flat becomes the largest and has access to the garden.

Greenest House with two residential units

Redevelopment Cycle

By taking profits out of the cycle we lose the ability to add sustainable upgrades to the building. The Greenest House redevelopment cycle is designed to create the best possible house and to financially allow the process to keep on going.

01. Acquire a house

The model could be applied to any property, but we should focus on the properties most in need, an un-upgraded and run down, Victorian terraced house.

02. Increase size

Increase the efficiency of land use rear, side and dormer extension. Split property into flats and add `garden room.

03. Double the units

Subdividing the now larger house doubles the amount of homes provided.

04. Green upgrades

The increase in value is invested back into the property, creating a house fit for the future.

05. Sustainable living

A new improved house – for people and the environment – with decreased long term running costs.

06. Continuing the cycle

With the sale of the house, the assets are released and the process can start again, while retaining the knowledge and experience in the Greenest House movement.

Partners

To create the best solutions we believe in sustained relationships. Greenest House partners with a select group of companies that are pioneers in the construction industry and are run by people who eager to make change happen. Together we share a vision for a better, more equal and properly sustainable future.