Scotland's New Passivhaus-inspired Building Standard: What it Means For You
Scotland is planning a new Passivhaus-inspired building standard for all new homes. Here's what it means for you. [5 Min Read Time]
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Woodend of Glassel: The Story Behind Our First Development
Read Time: 2 minutes
Author. Clare Booth
Director
Author. Clare Booth
Director
Read Time: 2 minutes
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Mature trees, red squirrels and the plot I'd pick for myself. Director Clare Booth on our Woodend of Glassel Passivhaus development.
Planning has been approved for Woodend of Glassel, our development of five Passivhaus homes in Royal Deeside.
It's North East Scotland's first Passivhaus development, an important milestone for the Coldwells Build team.
The first time I walked around the site, what struck me was the towering old Scots pine, silver birch, alder and red fir, with red squirrels darting between the branches.
That’s one of the things that makes Woodend of Glassel so rare. Most of the time, when we’re building a new home, we start with a relatively bare plot, with no trees, no shelter and very little wildlife. Here it’s already settled.
It feels rural, without being remote. Everything is close by. Banchory and Torphins are less than five minutes away, with excellent schools, shops, gyms, walking trails and amenities.
A different kind of development
We've wanted to build a small development for some time. Ross and I are raising our two boys in Aberdeenshire, and we hoped to create the kind of place we'd love to live ourselves. That didn't mean rows of houses squeezed tightly together. It meant healthy, energy-efficient homes with space and nature right on the doorstep. Woodend of Glassel is exactly that.
Each of the five homes has up to 1,500m² of garden and around 20 metres between neighbours, and there's a 600m² shared green space for everyone to enjoy. The Burn of Canny runs along the edge of the site, there are views towards Scolty Hill, and roe deer and woodpeckers are regular visitors, too.
For more than 20 years, the site was home to holiday lodges run by the landowners, Ursula and Adrian George. It was a place where people came to enjoy the trees, the quiet and the wildlife, and it feels right that its next chapter will be about the same things.
"We wanted any development to respect what makes this setting so special, while creating high-quality homes that will serve people well for generations to come," says Ursula. "We're delighted to be working with Coldwells Build offering homes that combine thoughtful design with exceptional energy efficiency."
The Davidson, Plot 02 • Woodend of Glassel
The Homes
Each plot comes with one of our pre-designed Passivhaus homes, created with Glasgow-based John Gilbert Architects. There's the McKinley, a five-bedroom home of 234m², and the Davidson, a four-bedroom home of 182m².
Every home is designed to achieve independent Passivhaus certification. In practice, that means using around 79% less heating than a home built to current Scottish building regulations.
We make each one in our workshop in Insch, just 25 miles away, and then assemble it on site. You'll get a fixed price and a guaranteed move-in date, and you can choose from our selection of finishes to make it feel like yours.
The McKinley, Plot 03 • Woodend of Glassel
Who will live here?
I can picture anyone here: a young family looking for room to grow, a couple ready to slow down, or someone escaping the city for the peace of Royal Deeside.
I'd happily live here myself. My favourite is the McKinley | Plot 03, tucked away in the corner with its own pocket of mature Scots pine, but I'll have to leave that one for someone else.
Come and see for yourself
The best way to understand Woodend of Glassel is to walk it yourself. There's parking on site, so you're welcome to drop by and explore the plots at your own pace. Or, if you'd rather have a guided tour, we'd love to meet you out there and show you around.
Plot and turnkey Passivhaus prices start from £695,000.
- Register your interest here, or get in touch to arrange a visit.
Author.
Clare Booth
• Director
A trained communicator, Clare co-founded Coldwells Build with the aim of improving consumer experience within the construction process. Working previously as a television director and journalist, she understands more than most, about the power of detail, organisation and timing.
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