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Progress in Practice Sustainable architecture and design, with an emphasis on genuine client engagement and community

Please meet Anisah, who has recently joined the PiP team!Anisah is a graduate of the Manchester School of Architecture, ...
14/10/2026

Please meet Anisah, who has recently joined the PiP team!

Anisah is a graduate of the Manchester School of Architecture, with a passion for people-centred, socially responsible design. Her vision is that the built environment is a mechanism for lasting change and that architecture should use that platform to build an inclusive and socially just future.

Alongside architecture, Anisah is a photographer and creative workshop facilitator, with a love for zine-making, bookbinding and anything print-related. She works with community groups and young people, exploring identity and creative expression, with the aim of making the arts and architecture accessible to all.

Welcome Anisah, we’re very happy to have you on board!

Progress in Practice turns 5 - and we've moved!PiP started in a small office in Urmston with ambitions of delivering Pas...
07/10/2026

Progress in Practice turns 5 - and we've moved!

PiP started in a small office in Urmston with ambitions of delivering Passivhaus and retrofit projects across Greater Manchester. With a tiny team and a less than glamorous office (we won't miss the woodchip wallpaper!), this dream felt a long way off at the time.

But thanks to some amazing collaborators and wonderful clients over the last five years, we had the opportunity to work on some exciting and innovative projects which we truly love. While picking favourites is impossible, some personal highlights from the team include:

💚 Copper Beech - Greater Manchester's First Net Zero Energy Passivhaus Plus home
💚Foxlow - Greater Manchester's First AECB Carbonlite Retrofit home
💚 Ward Grove - Greater Manchester's Second AECB Carbonlite Retrofit home
💚 Central Lodge - Retrofit of a Grade II Listed Lodge to the standard
💚 Silver Wings - the First in Warrington
💚 Levenshulme ABS - working with Carbon Co-op on their Area Based Retrofit Scheme of five homes in Levenshulme
💚Park Haus - the First EnerPHit in Trafford, which featured on Guy Martin's ‘House Without Bills’

Our team has also evolved and grown, so we have been looking for a studio space that works for everyone.

This September we moved to SEESAW, just 5 minutes’ walk from Oxford Road station and 10 minutes’ walk from Piccadilly. A new environment, new neighbours and new opportunities - all a little closer to the heart of the city.

So, if you are in the area, please do pop in and visit PiP!

Last week the PiP team attended FLIPIM, the grassroots regeneration conference in Birkenhead. Known for being the antido...
30/09/2026

Last week the PiP team attended FLIPIM, the grassroots regeneration conference in Birkenhead. Known for being the antidote to MIPIM, FLIPIM is the destination for refilling your cup with social ambition! Inspiring speakers included , and .

Our newest team member Izzy Beal has shared some of her thoughts on her first conference in practice in a blog post:
"The biggest lesson that I took away from the day...was the unequivocable importance of making our industry more accessible. Whether discussing the Passivhaus design process for one dwelling or the regeneration of an entire neighbourhood, there is enormous value in ensuring that the people at the heart of our schemes, those we are designing FOR, understand not only what we are proposing – but why. Meaningful engagement with our end-users and the people directly impacted by design decisions is crucial - just as much as it is to achieve a compliant U-Value, or a low-carbon envelope!"

For the long read, visit our website - www.progressinpractice.co.uk/news

Last week, we were lucky enough to join the Yorkshire Group on a tour of Bill Butcher and Chris Herring’s three new ...
16/09/2026

Last week, we were lucky enough to join the Yorkshire Group on a tour of Bill Butcher and Chris Herring’s three new homes.

It was a gorgeous day in the Colne Valley and the visit was well attended, with friends from across the industry coming out to see this new project by some of the Godfathers of the UK Passivhaus movement.

Highlights for us included:

💚Understanding the ‘community structure’ of the friends’ individual homes and shared gardens – and the pros and cons of this approach
💚Seeing the community gardens in action
💚Discussing the construction details with Bill – including the decision to go with a stick build frame over pre-fabricated, and the impact (good and bad) on cost and timescales
💚Talking airtightness strategy for the build. The three homes will be certified as one, but each have an individual airtightness strategy for robustness

A huge thank you to Adam Harper for organising the visit, and to Bill for taking the time to lead the tour and share his knowledge.

An inspiring project, a beautiful setting and a great day all around. 🌱🏡

Say hello to Izzy 👋 our newest team member!A recent graduate of Manchester School of Architecture, Izzy has a real passi...
09/09/2026

Say hello to Izzy 👋 our newest team member!

A recent graduate of Manchester School of Architecture, Izzy has a real passion for community-oriented projects and the social value of architecture. Sustainability sits at the heart of her approach, alongside a playful yet careful attitude to design. These are themes she explored in her final-year project, which placed social value and sustainability at its core.

Outside the studio, you'll find Izzy at the cinema immersed in the latest releases, or taking a leisurely walk along Manchester's canals.

We think Izzy is settling in nicely - and Billie in particular sure feels this way!

🏛️ Central Lodge hits its Passivhaus EnerPHit airtightness target!This Grade II Listed Lodge in Birkenhead Park is being...
19/08/2026

🏛️ Central Lodge hits its Passivhaus EnerPHit airtightness target!

This Grade II Listed Lodge in Birkenhead Park is being retrofitted and extended to Passivhaus EnerPHit standard and is on track for completion this autumn 🏗️

The existing building has been upgraded with wood fibre insulation, recycled newspaper insulation and lime plaster, chosen for being breathable and low carbon. Aerogel has helped tackle tricky thermal bridges along the way.

Why does airtightness matter so much on a listed building?

Old buildings are full of awkward junctions and details never built with airtightness in mind — so getting it right takes real skill. The payoff:

🌬️ No more cold draughts. Instead a stable, comfortable temperature all year
💷 Less heat lost = lower running costs
🫁 Fresh air. Airtightness works hand-in-hand with a certified MVHR system, so fresh air is constantly and efficiently exchanged without losing all that hard-won heat.
🧱 Less risk of damp and decay, vital for preserving a historic building long-term

EnerPHit sets the retrofit target at below 1.0 air changes per hour @ 50Pa. On Central Lodge, the team achieved an impressive 0.96 ACH@50pa, a fantastic result for a building of this age and complexity, and testament to the skill and care taken on site.

Watch this space for more updates 👀



Passivhaus Trust Aeroseal UK Ecospheric Zero Energy

We're delighted to share that Manchester City Council has approved planning for a phased retrofit project in Whalley Ran...
12/08/2026

We're delighted to share that Manchester City Council has approved planning for a phased retrofit project in Whalley Range — and we couldn't be happier for our clients, who've been fantastic to work with throughout.

The scheme includes:
🧱 External wall insulation
🌬️ New ventilation strategy
🪟 Triple glazing
🔒 Airtightness improvements

Securing consent for a deep retrofit of this scale within a conservation area isn't easy — it takes real care to balance heritage character with genuine energy performance gains. This approval is a great example of what's possible when thoughtful retrofit design meets a council willing to support ambitious, fabric-first upgrades.

We're looking forward to getting started and will share progress as the project develops.


We're delighted to share that Julie has successfully passed her exam for the Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures...
06/08/2026

We're delighted to share that Julie has successfully passed her exam for the Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings!

This qualification gives Julie an even deeper understanding of how to improve the energy efficiency of older and traditional buildings while protecting their historic character and original features.

As an experienced architect and qualified PAS 2035 Retrofit Coordinator, Julie already brings a wealth of expertise to our projects. This latest achievement further strengthens her ability to deliver energy-efficient retrofit solutions that respect the unique qualities of older and traditional buildings.

Congratulations, Julie, on this well-deserved achievement! 👏🏡🔋


NOCN Group

This afternoon, Progress in Practice joined Manchester Care and Repair in to talk with the local community about the B...
29/07/2026

This afternoon, Progress in Practice joined Manchester Care and Repair in to talk with the local community about the Barrack Street Project!

This exciting project aims to transform an iconic local landmark into a community hub, offering facilities and a welcoming place for local people to come together. The project will also focus on retrofitting the fabric, reducing energy demand and coming off fossil fuels to give this historic building a more sustainable future. 🌱

We invited residents and community members to share their ideas: how the space should be used, how it should look and feel, and their hopes for the future of this beautiful building. 💬

Thank you to everyone who came along and got involved - your voice is shaping what this space will become! 🙌

Silver Wings Passivhaus! We are delighted to share that our lovely client’s new home has officially been certified as a ...
08/07/2026

Silver Wings Passivhaus! We are delighted to share that our lovely client’s new home has officially been certified as a !

We visited last month to deliver the Passivhaus Certificate and Plaque with Certifier for the scheme, Jesus from Zero Energy.

Our visit coincided with the peak of the last heat wave and we’re happy to report that the house was exceptionally comfortable! This is achieved through a substantial canopy shading the south, east and west elevations, a cross ventilation strategy of opening windows and of course exceptional insulation and air tightness.

Sadly the whole team couldn’t be there, but luckily we snapped Stephen and Sam when the project completed, with one very happy customer. The care, craft and determination put in by this project team (inc. our lovely client) has delivered on both performance and finish - well done everyone!

See if you can spot our furry helpers in there too!

Passivhaus Trust

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Manchester

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+441612224321

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