The housing we need now: igloo secures role in The Crown Estate’s ambitious national demonstration projects

At igloo, we know the world we live in presents many unprecedented possibilities and opportunities. But at the same time, we face a number of urgent challenges – from climate change and biodiversity loss to social inequalities and loneliness – all of which call on us to adopt new approaches and solutions to ensure we can deliver transformative social, economic and environmental change.

So, our selection as a partner for The Crown Estate’s innovative housing demonstration projects, which will see us deliver 60 sustainable homes in Knutsford, marks another pivotal moment for our journey as an innovator in development and the future of housing in the UK, reimagining what it means to live sustainably, healthily and happily.

Developing for the world we need next  

As the UK’s first real estate B Corp and a pioneer in sustainable development, guided by our industry-leading, globally recognised Footprint® process, igloo has long championed development that prioritises people, place, and planet. This project perfectly aligns with our mission to lead impactful, community-first regeneration that prioritises environmental responsibility and social value.  

It’s not the first time we’ve taken on a project like this, working with Communities to create trailblazing equitable, beautiful and sustainable neighbourhoods. From our Home of 2030 competition-winning project in Sunderland, to one of the UK’s first community energy projects in partnership the University of Nottingham at Trent Basin in Nottingham, we’re no strangers to doing things differently for the greater good.

For us, the opportunity to create 60 sustainable homes in Knutsford, Cheshire, isn’t just about building houses; it’s about crafting a replicable blueprint for low-carbon, high-quality living.

Through innovative low carbon design, renewable energy integration, and a commitment to community collaboration and formation, our Knutsford development for The Crown Estate will embody the principles we’ve held dear for over two decades. It will serve as a tangible expression of how housing can be sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready.

Supporting a national step change  

The Crown Estate’s housing demonstration projects are more than individual developments; they represent a bold response to some of the UK’s most pressing housing challenges. By bringing together SMEs like igloo, GS8, and TOWN, the initiative fosters a spirit of innovation and partnership to tackle systemic issues such as affordability, carbon emissions, and biodiversity loss.

Our work in Knutsford will contribute to this national effort by delivering homes that meet stringent targets for embodied carbon and energy use while achieving a 15% biodiversity net gain. These ambitions resonate with the urgent need to reduce the environmental footprint of housing and ensure a healthier, more resilient future for all.

Only together will we drive innovation at scale

The significance of these projects extends far beyond their immediate impact. By testing new ideas, materials, construction methods, and community engagement approaches, they offer invaluable insights that can redefine the housing sector. igloo’s role in this is to not only deliver a successful project but also to share learnings that inspire widespread change.

We want to use opportunities like this to be the open-source R&D department for the whole of the property industry. Because we believe that change at the scale the world needs will only happen if we’re all pulling in the same direction.

From pioneering low-carbon infrastructure to refining community-first design principles, we’re committed to contributing our expertise and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. As The Crown Estate explores how to scale these innovations, our work in Knutsford will stand as a testament to the potential of sustainable housing to deliver for people, place, and planet.

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