Client: Midland Heart Housing Association
System:
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Enveovent
Project overview
In March 2025, a social housing development of 12 affordable, energy efficient homes was completed on Barnesville Close in Birmingham. It was the first project to utilise EnveoVent, Saint-Gobain’s complete-wall solution. This case study highlights the multiple advantages provided to both the contractor and the client by not only the system itself, but also the additional support and service provided by the wider Saint-Gobain Off-site solutions team..
“With EnveoVent, we’ve created a solution that not only meets today’s housing challenges but also prepares us for the future. It’s about building better homes, faster, while also making a real difference for communities.”
Lauren Arthur, Solutions Manager at Saint-Gobain
Midland Heart is one of the Midlands’ largest housing associations. With an estate
of 35,000 homes, the organisation has committed to delivering a further 2,250 affordable homes by 2030. “There is a shortfall of decent, affordable homes across the UK, and the Midlands is no exception,” explains Tony Hopkin, Head of Development at Midland Heart. “We want to play our part in reducing the housing shortage by building the quality, affordable homes that our region desperately needs.” Looking for new approaches to this challenge, Midland Heart teamed with Saint-Gobain Off-Site Solutions (OSS) and contractor TR Partnership Homes to pilot Saint-Gobain’s through-the-wall solution, EnveoVent, at Barnesville Close in Small Heath, Birmingham. The new development of 12, two- and three-bedroom energy-efficient homes has been built to meet and exceed the upcoming Future Homes Standard – a set of new regulations requiring significant improvements in energy efficiency. As a result, residents move into warmer homes that are less expensive to heat.
Steve Thompson, Director at TR Partnership Homes explained why the speed of build at Barnesville Close was a key factor for Midland Heart, which needed to complete the development in a short timescale to meet Homes England Affordable Housing Grant funding requirements. Traditional builds take weeks to get to the same stage, with weather delays, material shortages, and complex logistics slowing progress. With EnveoVent, using a timberframe structure, we had homes going up within a week, which was not only faster but also safer and cleaner for everyone involved. Moreover, the tender requirements meant that we needed to complete the build by March 2025 and EnveoVent was the only solution that allowed us to meet that tight timescale.
The Barnesville Close project is in a residential area with narrow roads, tight access and a limited construction footprint. By building with panels in a shorter timeframe, these challenges were minimised throughout the build.
Gemma Davey, Development Manager at Midland Heart, describes the impact of greater energy efficiency on residents: “Affordability is about more than just rent – it’s about ensuring homes are energy-efficient and cheaper to run. EnveoVent offers superior thermal performance, keeping residents warm while reducing their energy bills. It means we can give people homes they can truly afford to live in.”
Following the success of Barnesville Close, Midland Heart plans to replicate the system across future projects, while TR Partnership Homes has embraced offsite construction as a core part of its business strategy. The scalability of EnveoVent, suitable for developments of 10 to 500 homes, ensures its potential to address the UK’s housing needs on a national scale.