{"id":770691,"date":"2025-01-30T08:02:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T08:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=770691"},"modified":"2025-02-10T17:12:33","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T17:12:33","slug":"housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate","title":{"rendered":"Housing quality up, bills down: Hawkins\\Brown and Mae regenerate Camden estate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u2018Continuity has been the success of the project,\u2019 says Alex Ely, founding director of Mae. We\u2019re standing by the third phase of Agar Grove, the largest estate regeneration scheme in the UK to aim for the Passivhaus standard. As we\u2019re shown around, the five of us \u2013 including Ely and Hawkins\\Brown partner Phil Catcheside \u2013 are followed by a large cohort from contractor Hill Partnerships, whose excitement at seeing the latest phase realised is palpable, stopping for photographs at every key moment. The project team has largely remained the same throughout the estate\u2019s 12-year-long phased development, so it\u2019s no surprise that they\u2019re delighted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">A scheme not yet reviewed by the AJ until now, despite its lengthy programme, Agar Grove is a flagship (and largest) project for Camden Council\u2019s Community Investment Programme, an ambitious plan to invest in schools, homes and community facilities across the borough \u2013 their \u2018answer to government spending cuts\u2019, as it says on the council\u2019s website. It\u2019s also part of a \u00a32.3 billion programme of local authority-led investment in the borough intended to unlock the delivery of 4,850 homes.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_771678\" class=\" wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"breakout wp-image-771678 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162435\/08-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown-and-Mae_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162435\/08-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown-and-Mae_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162435\/08-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown-and-Mae_Tim-Crocker-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162435\/08-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown-and-Mae_Tim-Crocker-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162435\/08-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown-and-Mae_Tim-Crocker-440x330.webp 440w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162435\/08-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown-and-Mae_Tim-Crocker-230x172.webp 230w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162435\/08-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown-and-Mae_Tim-Crocker-150x112.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photography by Francesco Montaguti<\/em><\/p>\n\t<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><p class=\"empty_inline_source\"><\/p><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The 2.57ha masterplan \u2013 of which just over half had been completed as of 2024 \u2013 has been led by Hawkins\\Brown with Mae, and with Grant Associates as landscape architect. It has involved the rebuilding of a 249-home estate dating from 1966, just north-east of Camden Town. This originally comprised a series of low to medium-rise blocks clustered around a 19-storey tower, built as part of the 1960s Camden Town Project under Sydney Cook, the borough architect from 1965 to 1973. Phase 1a of the regeneration masterplan reached completion in 2018 and families from the original estate moved into the first 38 new council homes that spring.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The \u00a3120 million development, once complete, will include 496 new homes \u2013 double the number of the estate\u2019s original 249. Of these, 205 are for social rent, 69 intermediate and 222 for private sale. A detailed planning application for the overhaul \u2013 which also included retail, business and community space \u2013 was submitted in 2014, with the aim of demolishing 112 of the existing houses, along with plans for retrofitting the central 56m-tall Lulworth House tower block. The 25,600m<sup>2<\/sup> regeneration includes terraced family houses, maisonettes with gardens and flats. To date 220 homes have been built, mainly across perimeter blocks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Hawkins\\Brown and Mae were selected for the job ahead of bids from BPTW, Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, Pollard Thomas Edwards and PRP with BDP to land the \u2018significant\u2019 scheme in 2013. Urban Splash was also appointed as development adviser to work on proposals for the tower refurbishment, drawing on its experience of working on the (twice) Stirling Prize-shortlisted Park Hill development in Sheffield.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_771694\" class=\" wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"breakout wp-image-771694 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-1000x666.webp 1000w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-748x499.webp 748w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-492x328.webp 492w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-185x123.webp 185w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-230x153.webp 230w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22163842\/Untitled-3-150x100.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photography by Tim Crocker<\/em><\/p>\n\t<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><p class=\"empty_inline_source\"><\/p><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The Agar Grove scheme is notable for its Passivhaus ambitions but also for<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>the extent of its engagement with residents. \u2018The existing tenants have all been retained,\u2019 says Ely, adding that a government grant of \u00a36.89 million has also enabled the council to acquire 29 more homes for refugees that were originally up for private sale. Residents were surveyed beforehand to ensure their new homes met their future needs. And the phased approach to the development has allowed them to watch their homes being built before moving in, in a single decant. \u2018It was a bit like a jigsaw to integrate the homes of returning residents,\u2019 recalls Ely.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Phase 1c consists of two buildings with courtyards to the north of the site and a new avenue connecting to the retained Lulworth House tower and Agar Children\u2019s Centre and Family Hub. The blocks contain 125 one, two and three-bedroom flats and two-storey, two-bedroom maisonettes, in addition to three-bedroom wheelchair-accessible maisonettes. Space for a popular barber\u2019s shop also brings a vibrant use to the corner of the larger block.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The blocks have active frontages with double-height shared entrances and single-height entrances to maisonettes which line the street-side elevations. Bedrooms are placed either at first floor level or facing onto the semi-private courtyard gardens. All entrances have a view to the courtyard, something emphasised by the architects as I\u2019m shown round, both Ely and Catcheside agreeing that \u2018transparency of the lobbies\u2019 was a priority. The open visual connection between the courtyards, lobbies and streets makes these shared circulation spaces feel more generous and equitable for all tenants.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_771681\" class=\" wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"breakout wp-image-771681 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162734\/10-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162734\/10-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162734\/10-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162734\/10-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162734\/10-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-440x330.webp 440w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162734\/10-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-230x172.webp 230w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162734\/10-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-150x112.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photography by Francesco Montaguti<\/em><\/p>\n\t<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><p class=\"empty_inline_source\"><\/p><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Externally, the latest blocks are finished in a high-quality, purple-tinged brick laid in varying courses, plus glass-reinforced concrete fa\u00e7ade materials to complement the Camden context and help unify the development. Attention has particularly been given to entrances, where the double-height brickwork steps back to form tapered reveals, creating a sense of grandeur. At a time when cost is the main limitation in housebuilding, simple but beautiful moves such as these add to the longevity of a building.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">There are a few nods to Camden\u2019s history of modernist architecture, including external columns and low-rise fences. Previous phases have also drawn on this heritage: one block, completed in an unusual tan brick, flips the maisonette around and steps back in the style of Neave Brown\u2019s Alexandra Estate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">\u2018Everything that has worked before, we\u2019ve done again,\u2019 says Ely. Learning lessons from previous phases, the thermal envelope of the larger building has been simplified, reducing extremities that are exposed to the elements to aid airtightness. Any recessed balconies that are not at the buildings\u2019 corners have glazing added to create what Catcheside calls \u2018solariums\u2019. Fitted with large, triple-glazed windows, two thirds of the window area in these spaces can be opened to create something halfway between a winter garden and a conservatory, but more adaptable and climate-resilient. \u2018It\u2019s a hybrid,\u2019 says Catcheside. Simply delineated by a change in floor finish, this space is flexible, giving tenants options in how they use their flats, which have been designed to slightly higher space standards than the norm.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_771684\" class=\" wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"breakout wp-image-771684 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162902\/03-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162902\/03-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162902\/03-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162902\/03-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162902\/03-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-440x330.webp 440w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162902\/03-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-230x172.webp 230w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162902\/03-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-150x112.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photography by Francesco Montaguti<\/em><\/p>\n\t<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><p class=\"empty_inline_source\"><\/p><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">These new homes, expected to achieve Passivhaus certification, will reduce heating bills by up to 70 per cent compared with the previous outdated stock \u2013 all part of Camden\u2019s drive to tackle fuel poverty. Designing to Passivhaus principles \u2018keeps the learning curve up\u2019, Catcheside explains. He adds that, on the next phase, the heating system will change from a centralised system to individual dwelling systems, which only operate when individual homes need them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">The rest of the masterplan, developed in collaboration with Agar Grove\u2019s residents, is based on traditional \u2018streets and squares\u2019, with an emphasis on creating liveable spaces between homes and improving pedestrian routes across the site. The aim is to stitch the formerly disconnected estate into the wider urban grain of bustling Camden. The estate feels exceptionally safe and family-oriented as you walk around, with cooking facilities and trampolines dotted around the shared courtyards. Once fully complete, there will be a third more affordable floor space on the estate, helping to tackle overcrowding. Here as elsewhere, it has been the sale of private homes on the estate that has allowed the council to fund the build of more council homes for families on the council\u2019s waiting list \u2013 an all too familiar tactic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">All ground-floor flats and maisonettes have private gardens and some flats at 1-15 Milburn Lane have access to a roof terrace. Alongside the communal gardens and children\u2019s playgrounds there are residents\u2019 growing areas. Exterior planting has been developed to support a site-wide SuDs system and roof garden planting provides a \u2018mosaic\u2019 of habitat types to promote biodiversity.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_771679\" class=\" wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"breakout wp-image-771679 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162608\/06-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162608\/06-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162608\/06-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162608\/06-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162608\/06-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-440x330.webp 440w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162608\/06-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-230x172.webp 230w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22162608\/06-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown_Tim-Crocker-150x112.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photography by Francesco Montaguti<\/em><\/p>\n\t<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><p class=\"empty_inline_source\"><\/p><\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Last to complete in the plan<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>will be the revamp of Lulworth House, still served by its own shop and caf\u00e9, at the centre of the site. First approved in 2014, this part of the scheme is still undergoing design changes affected by changes to the Building Regulations and isn\u2019t expected to finish until 2030.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Agar Grove\u2019s site is adjacent to two intersecting railway lines which run between it and the new neighbourhood at King&#8217;s Cross. As part of Camden\u2019s drive not only to provide quality homes for borough residents but also to create communities that are economically and socially resilient, the borough is also regenerating two light industrial parks on Camley Street, which starts at Agar Grove and runs south towards one of London\u2019s main transport hubs. The project is a commercial-led scheme featuring housing plus life sciences facilities to inject new employment opportunities into what will become a key route.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Agar Grove is a high-quality scheme whose incremental and steady build has been efficient (luckily there have been few setbacks) as well as forward-looking. Keeping the same project team on the scheme throughout has allowed learnings to be applied at subsequent stages and open dialogue with residents has meant the \u2018jigsaw\u2019 of homes has been effectively pieced together. It\u2019s a testament to a strong masterplan and vision that has been carefully planned. It shows that continuity really is essential for regeneration.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_771695\" class=\" wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"breakout wp-image-771695 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22164016\/13-Agar-Grove_Mae_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22164016\/13-Agar-Grove_Mae_Tim-Crocker-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22164016\/13-Agar-Grove_Mae_Tim-Crocker-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22164016\/13-Agar-Grove_Mae_Tim-Crocker-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22164016\/13-Agar-Grove_Mae_Tim-Crocker-440x330.webp 440w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22164016\/13-Agar-Grove_Mae_Tim-Crocker-230x172.webp 230w, https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/22164016\/13-Agar-Grove_Mae_Tim-Crocker-150x112.webp 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photography by Tim Crocker<\/em><\/p>\n\t<p class=\"inline_image_source\" style=\"max-width: 1034px;\"><p class=\"empty_inline_source\"><\/p><\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Project data<\/span><br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>Start on site<\/b>\u00a0\u200aJanuary 2021<br \/>\n<b>Completion<\/b>\u00a0\u200aJune 2024<br \/>\n<b>Gross internal floor area<\/b>\u00a0\u200a7,491m<sup>2<\/sup><br \/>\n<b>Construction cost<\/b>\u00a0\u200a\u00a341.4 million (all works for this phase)<br \/>\n<b>Architect<\/b>\u00a0\u200aHawkins\\Brown Architects and Mae Architects<br \/>\n<b>Executive architect<\/b>\u00a0Hawkins\\Brown Architects<br \/>\n<b>Client <\/b>\u200aLondon Borough of Camden<br \/>\n<b>Structural engineer<\/b>\u00a0\u200aPeter Brett Associates (Stage 3), Price &amp; Myers (delivery)<br \/>\n<b>M&amp;E consultant<\/b>\u00a0Max Fordham<br \/>\n<b>Quantity surveyor<\/b>\u00a0Arcadis<br \/>\n<b>Project manager<\/b>\u00a0Arcadis<br \/>\n<b>Approved building inspector<\/b>\u00a0London Borough of Camden<br \/>\n<b>Main contractor <\/b>Hill Partnership<br \/>\n<b>CAD software used<\/b>\u00a0Revit<br \/>\n<b>Annual CO<\/b><span class=\"s3\"><b><sub>2<\/sub><\/b><\/span><b> emissions <\/b>10.9 kgCO<span class=\"s3\"><sub>2<\/sub><\/span>\/m<sup>2<\/sup><br \/>\n<b>Passivhaus consultant<\/b>\u00a0<span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Max Fordham<\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Passivhaus certifier<\/strong>\u00a0Warm<br \/>\n<b>Planning consultant<\/b>\u00a0CMA Planning<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Sustainability data<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\"><b>On-site energy generation <\/b>27,884 kWh\/yr (calculated value)<br \/>\n<b>Heating and hot water load<\/b>\u00a0Building I: 18.1 kWh\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/yr; Building JKL: 14.6 kWh\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/yr (calculated value, electrical input energy)<br \/>\n<b>Total energy load <\/b>Building I: 48.8 kWh\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/yr; Building JKL: 46.0 kWh\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/yr (calculated values)<br \/>\n<b>Carbon emissions (all) <\/b>10.9 kgCO<span class=\"s2\"><sub>2<\/sub><\/span>\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/yr (calculated value)<br \/>\n<b>Annual mains water consumption<\/b>\u00a0105 litres\/person\/day (estimated value)<br \/>\n<b>Airtightness at 50Pa <\/b>Building I: 1.02 m<sup>3<\/sup>\/hr\/m<sup>2<\/sup>; Building JKL: 1.22 m<sup>3<\/sup>\/hr\/m<sup>2<\/sup> (measured values)<br \/>\n<b>Overall thermal bridging heat transfer coefficient (Y-value) <\/b>Building I: 0.04 W\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/K; Building JKL: 0.03 W\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/K<br \/>\n(calculated values)<br \/>\n<b>Overall area-weighted U-value <\/b>Building I: 0.25 W\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/K; Building JKL: 0.27 W\/m<sup>2<\/sup>\/K (calculated values)<br \/>\n<b>Embodied\/whole-life carbon<\/b>\u00a0Not assessed<br \/>\n<b>Predicted design life<\/b>\u00a060 years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2018Continuity has been the success of the project,\u2019 says Alex Ely, founding director of Mae. We\u2019re standing by the third phase of Agar Grove, the largest estate regeneration scheme in the UK to aim for the Passivhaus standard. As we\u2019re shown around, the five of us \u2013 including Ely and Hawkins\\Brown partner Phil Catcheside \u2013 &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59337,"featured_media":771791,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[706],"tags":[91191,1743,1278,2384],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Housing quality up, bills down: Hawkins\\Brown and Mae regenerate Camden estate<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The third stage of an ambitious regeneration of the Agar Grove Estate for Camden Council has been completed\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Housing quality up, bills down: Hawkins\\Brown and Mae regenerate Camden estate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The third stage of an ambitious regeneration of the Agar Grove Estate for Camden Council has been completed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Architects\u2019 Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-01-30T08:02:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-10T17:12:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.emap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/23123459\/12-Agar-Grove_HawkinsBrown-and-Mae_Tim-Crocker-copy-1024x683.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Fran Williams\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Fran Williams\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate\",\"name\":\"Housing quality up, bills down: Hawkins\\\\Brown and Mae regenerate Camden estate\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-01-30T08:02:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-10T17:12:33+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/1570dce5388724b11951af0e49b4a9b6\"},\"description\":\"The third stage of an ambitious regeneration of the Agar Grove Estate for Camden Council has been completed\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/buildings\/housing-quality-up-bills-down-hawkinsbrown-and-mae-regenerate-camden-estate#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Housing quality up, bills down: Hawkins\\\\Brown and Mae regenerate Camden estate\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/\",\"name\":\"The Architects\u2019 Journal\",\"description\":\"Architecture News &amp; 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