Norfolk-based Norse sets its sights on energy-saving homes

Norfolk-based Norse Group has set its sights on bringing energy-efficient housing to the wider market by throwing its weight behind an innovative building technique.

The EDP Top 100 firm has joined forces with Hethel-based construction company Beattie Passive Build System to deliver a new breed of low-cost homes to local authorities, private developers and housing associations.

According to the company, the new venture – Beattie Passive Norse – will build houses quicker, cheaper and with huge energy and heat savings by using the 'Passivhaus' method pioneered in Germany.

And it also vowed to unlock opportunities for the unemployed through new apprenticeship schemes.

It comes after Ron and Rosemary Beattie, of Beattie Passive, recently announced plans to take on three new designers and boost their turnover from £2m to £5m by trebling their orders.

Mike Britch, managing director of Norse Group, said: 'The Beattie Passive Norse solution is able to offer our clients with a design, produce, construct, deliver and manage solution, addressing local housing needs for the whole community, whether in the affordable housing arena or private sector today and into the next decade.

'Its simplicity makes this solution so attractive to all markets and sectors and is at the forefront of changing the way we approach construction and building in general.

'It's not just the speed of construction, the cost effectiveness of the solution or that every building is tested and commissioned, it is much more than that.

'Being able to offer the Passivhaus standard by default at the same cost as traditional build today is a phenomenal achievement.'

Mr Beattie: 'We see this as an exciting joint venture that gives us a great opportunity to deliver the Beattie Passive product into schools, healthcare and local authority housing, while raising building standards, creating sustainable communities and generating work for the young and semi-skilled labour.'