By Areen Doski, Junior Architectural Designer at Newett Homes

A Different Way In

After graduating in architecture, I took an unconventional path into housebuilding, starting in an admin role supporting both the technical and construction teams. It was a move that gave me a rare and valuable outlook into house building from the view of both the site and technical team. Watching how drawings evolve from paper to reality on site and learning how crucial the connection between design and delivery really is. That experience helped me build a strong foundation, not just in processes and regulations, but in understanding the bigger picture.

The Power of a Good Network

Newett Homes has ambitious growth plans—scaling from around 50 units when I first joined to a target of 491 by 2029.  To scale quickly and effectively we have to find the best technology and build solutions, ones that work in combination, are efficient to build and improve our customers’ lives. Especially at a time when technologies are advancing and regulations changing rapidly. Future Homes Hub visits have become central to our learning journey and growth plans. I always find myself looking forward to these visits because they provide us perspectives and knowledge, we just can’t get behind a desk. They’re a great opportunity to share ideas and see sustainable innovation in action.

One of the biggest things I’ve come to appreciate is the value of staying connected because growth doesn’t happen in isolation. You learn the most by talking to others and seeing how different teams tackle similar challenges. The relationships we’ve built and the conversations we’ve had during these visits continue to inspire and push our thinking well beyond the site tour. It’s these connections that keep us evolving and moving forward.

Highlights From the Visits

My colleagues and I have had the opportunity to attend several fantastic site visits, including:

• PureHaus –Passivhaus Spring Meadows, Drighlington

This visit expanded our understanding of what’s possible with low-carbon, near-net-zero homes. Directors David Bradley-Bowles and Kevin Pratt kindly answered any of our questions and both highlighted the five key principles driving performance at Spring Meadows: superior insulation, zero thermal bridging, airtightness, quality ventilation, and high-performance glazing. A perfect reminder that sustainability is shaped as much by design as by technology. 

One takeaway that really stood out was the important role of plot orientation. Rather than following conventional planning norms, the development is designed to maximise solar gain throughout the day. Almost every home features a south-facing garden, with living areas positioned to benefit from sunlight and utility spaces placed on the opposite side. 

• Vistry Innovation Centre

Exploring Vistry’s Innovation Centre was a real highlight. The brilliant Gail Kenney showed us around, giving us a behind the scenes look at how they’re pushing towards zero-carbon goals. We got to see how they’re applying Passivhaus principles and using MMC, which can cut up to 11 weeks off a build programme, a major advantage. It was great to explore their roadmap to net zero, dig into real trial data, and get a clear picture of what’s working and where the challenges still are.

• Strata Desire Development

The Strata site visit began with a presentation from Lee Wilson, Sam Stones, and Elsie Hargate, showcasing their approach to innovative products designed to meet and exceed Future Homes standards. Lee highlighted the importance of the ongoing need to educate homeowners about systems like MVHR and ASHP, along with other emerging technologies that may still feel unfamiliar. The reality is, once people understand how these systems work, they’re on board. Strata showed how improved building fabric, smart tech integration, and standardisation can meaningfully cut both carbon emissions and build time. 

Thoughts for the Journey Ahead

To any housebuilders wondering whether these visits are worth it. They absolutely are! They’re full of real, practical takeaways you can bring back to your team. More importantly, these visits create space to connect with stakeholders across the industry, and to spark the kinds of conversations that fuel creativity and better design outcomes.

Thank you!

A heartfelt thank you to Kenny Mawson, Technical Director at Newett Homes, and John Leeson, Senior Technical Coordinator, for always encouraging me to step outside of my comfort zone and grow both personally and professionally.

And a very special thank you to Chris Gaze and the rest of the FFH team for making these visits possible!