Passive House Momentum Rises Across UK & Ireland

Passivhaus Upscaling in the UK & Ireland: A Turning Point for Low-Carbon Design

The message from this year’s UK & Ireland Passivhaus Conference in Belfast was clear: Passivhaus is no longer the niche of the few, but the framework for the future. With more than 600 delegates attending across two days, the conference celebrated a wave of large-scale Passive House adoption throughout Northern Ireland, the UK, and Ireland. As Academic Sponsor, Mosart was proud to contribute to the conversation — sharing technical insights, facilitating workshops, and reinforcing our commitment to redefining building performance through precision, progress, and collaboration.

Momentum Building Across Regions

Government representatives, developers, educators, and design leaders gathered in Belfast to explore how Passivhaus is transforming the construction landscape. The event featured keynote speeches, site tours, and case studies demonstrating that energy efficiency and climate resilience can now be achieved at scale.

Andrew Muir, Northern Ireland’s Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, praised the rapid expansion of Passivhaus in the region, calling it “a much-needed source of climate positivity and green-economy opportunity.” His Department is already leading by example through the £160 million redevelopment of the CAFRE campuses — adopting the Passivhaus Premium standard as a model for public-sector leadership.

Five Key Signs of Rapid Upscaling

1. Major housebuilders are committing to scale. Ireland’s Cairn Homes and the UK’s Barratt London have both announced plans to deliver Passive House developments at scale — a milestone for mainstream adoption.

2. Over £315 million invested in Northern Ireland. A surge of Passivhaus student accommodation, social housing, college campuses, and leisure facilities is underway — signalling a strong policy and investment shift.

3. Scotland leading with schools. Around 60 % of all new Scottish schools are now designed to Passivhaus methodology, enabled by progressive local-authority funding models.

4. UK housing sector targets growth. Passivhaus projects currently represent roughly 1 % of all UK homes under construction, with the Passivhaus Trust targeting 10 % within the next 5–10 years.

5. London becoming a Passivhaus hotspot. Driven by the London Plan, local councils have more than 3 000 social homes in the Passivhaus pipeline — a clear reflection of shifting policy priorities.

Collaboration Driving Change

Conference co-chairs Emma Osmundsen (Passivhaus Trust, UK) and Caroline Ashe Brady (Passive House Association of Ireland) emphasised the critical role of knowledge sharing between both regions. As Brady noted, “the networking and connections made at the conference will resonate for years to come, delivering a true Passivhaus multiplier effect.”

Jon Bootland, Chief Executive of the Passivhaus Trust, summed it up simply: “Passivhaus is a good-news story. It is a proven and practical solution.” His statement reflects what we at Mosart have long known — performance data, not promises, is what drives real change.

Why It Matters

The surge in large-scale Passive House projects across the UK and Ireland confirms what the industry’s most forward-thinking practitioners have recognised for years: the transition to zero-emission building is both inevitable and achievable. Regulatory alignment, financial incentives, and proven outcomes are converging to make high-performance design the new norm.

For Mosart’s clients, collaborators, and CPHD alumni, this marks a defining moment. Whether through our Certified Passive House Designer (On Demand) programme, our consulting expertise, or our architectural practice, we are equipping professionals to lead this transformation — from policy to performance.