Creating sustainable places to live and work has been central to urbanest’s ethos from day one. We continue to lead the way in developing student accommodation that is kinder to the environment.

All of our new-build developments have achieved BREEAM Excellent – a key measure of environmental performance – while urbanest Battersea is certified as BREEAM Outstanding. Additionally, 100% of the electricity used across our properties comes from renewable sources.

Now, urbanest is the first student accommodation provider in the UK to commit to designing and constructing all major new developments to Passivhaus standards, starting with urbanest Battersea, which opened in September 2024, and followed by urbanest Canary Wharf, due to complete in 2026.

A Healthier Living Environment

Passivhaus buildings are designed to provide exceptional indoor air quality and comfort. The airtight, highly insulated structure significantly reduces emissions while triple glazing and advanced ventilation systems keep residents naturally warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.

A unique air filtration system ensures that the air inside remains clean and pure, helping to keep out allergens, noise, and pollution – creating a healthier, more peaceful place to live.

Sustainability Starts With All of Us

Living in a Passivhaus building is a fantastic experience, and residents can take pride in knowing that they are contributing to a more sustainable future.

However, we can all do more. We encourage our residents to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and to be mindful of water and energy consumption. Small efforts make a big difference in ensuring that the many benefits of Passivhaus living are fully optimised – for both the environment and future generations.