First Passivhaus apartment completed at Willohaus as affordable homes take shape in Salford

Major milestones have been reached at Willohaus, 100 affordable, Passivhaus homes on Peru Street in Salford, with the completion of the brick exterior and the first apartment. 

The homes form the first part of Adelphi Village, a main residential zone of the £2.5bn, 240-acre Crescent Salford masterplan being delivered by Salford City Council, the University of Salford and ECF – a joint partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse.

The new community will deliver a diverse range of housing to create a sustainable, inclusive neighbourhood, with plans recently submitted for 263 homes at Old Adelphi and 42 townhouses and 185 apartments at Farmer Norton.

Salix Homes is the housing association partner for Willohaus, which has been designed by Buttress Architects and built by Eric Wright Construction. The one and two-bedroom apartments will be available for affordable rent, reflecting Salix Homes’ ongoing commitment to delivering much-needed high-quality, affordable housing.

Residents of the Passivhaus Classic certified homes will benefit from enhanced comfort and quality, as well as lower energy costs, with heating and hot water demand being up to 68% less than a typical new build constructed to building regulations.

Features such as high levels of insulation and effective heating and ventilation systems will ensure that the apartments remain cool in summer and warm in winter, with optimised air quality, supporting resident wellbeing and creating a healthier living environment.

Willohaus also features Juliet balconies and bike storage to connect internal and external areas and encourage sustainable, active travel. It will be the first residential phase of the masterplan to complete in summer 2026, having reached its highest point earlier this year.

Simon Hourihan, Project Director at ECF, said: “We’re making great progress at Willohaus and it’s exciting to see the vision coming to life as we head towards completion. These future-proof homes will make a vital contribution to the need for affordable housing in Salford, and their high-quality, sustainable design and build will provide a comfortable, healthy living environment, supporting lower energy bills and enhanced wellbeing.

“We look forward to celebrating the completion of Willohaus next year and welcoming the first residents as we begin to create a diverse, sustainable community at Adelphi Village.”

Glenn Martin, Director of Investment, Development and Sustainability at Salix Homes, said: “Reaching this stage at Willohaus is another exciting milestone in our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable, and energy-efficient homes in Salford.

“Following the success of Greenhaus, our first pioneering Passivhaus affordable development on Chapel Street, we are proud to continue working with ECF to deliver another 100 sustainable homes that will reduce energy costs and provide a healthier living environment for residents, supporting both people and the planet.”

Scott Delaney, Operations Director at Eric Wright Construction, added: “We’re proud to have reached this important milestone at our second Passivhaus development for our valued partners, ECF and Salix Homes. Achieving this stage is a testament to the team’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, and the exceptional attention to detail that is required to deliver a Passivhaus-certified building. It’s rewarding to see the project progressing towards completion, bringing forward high-quality, sustainable homes that will have a lasting positive impact on the Salford community.”

Salix Homes secured grant funding for the development from Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), alongside our own investment. Willohaus is the first Passivhaus development to benefit from funding through the new ‘trailblazer’ devolution protocols, which have seen GMCA given greater powers and funding via the Affordable Homes Programme.