We’re excited to share that Greencore Homes has submitted a reserved matters planning application for a new sustainable development in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire.

Working with award-winning architects HTA Design LLP, the plans include 89 Better Than Net Zero homes, of which 27 will be affordable. Designed in close consultation with the community, the scheme will create a new landscape-led neighbourhood with a village green, children’s play area, and a 13% net gain in biodiversity on site.

Built using our Biond closed timber frame panels made with natural materials, this development will achieve a net zero energy balance in operation, keeping bills low for residents, while being Better Than Net Zero embodied carbon during construction and net zero carbon each year in occupation.

This application follows a milestone summer for Greencore Homes as we accelerate towards our goal of delivering 10,000 Better Than Net Zero homes by 2035.

We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Homes England, securing £8 million in development funding to deliver 42, Better Than Net Zero homes at The Canopies, Milton Heights, Oxfordshire.
🔗 breckon.co.uk/thecanopies

This collaboration underlines Homes England’s commitment to assisting with housing delivery and helps to accelerate Greencore’s mission of building 10,000 Better Than Net Zero homes by 2035.

Designed by HTA Design LLP, The Canopies will offer 27 open-market and 15 affordable homes built to Passivhaus standards, achieving a net zero energy balance across the site. Unlike traditional brick houses, the structure of our homes locks up more carbon than they emit.

We hope this will be the start of a long and prosperous funding relationship supporting the SME sector in the delivery of high quality homes.

As the UK government announces a £39bn housing boost, the question isn’t just how many homes we build – but how we build, and how we want to live.
In the newest episode of Around the Table, host Rachel Colgan speaks with three experts who are rethinking development from the ground up:

Jon Di-Stefano: CEO of Greencore Homes, sharing lessons from delivering better than net zero, carbon storing, bio-based homes at scale.

Joanna Yarrow: Chief Impact Officer at Human Nature, introducing the “Whole Place” model: a bold, practical response to climate, housing, and social challenges.
Brogan MacDonald: Head of Sustainability at Ramboll UK, connecting engineering with regeneration and material reuse.

They discuss:

• Moving from units to communities
• Designing for care, character & connection
• Scaling timber, hempcrete & other regenerative materials
• What radical affordability really looks like
• Overcoming planning and policy barriers to do better, faster

This is essential listening for anyone shaping the future of sustainable housing and placemaking.

🎧 Listen now: https://www.building-relations.co.uk/our-podcast/

In the wake of UKREiiF we’re reflecting on some of the highlights on the conference—one of which was our CEO, Jon Di-Stefano attending the MHCLG roundtable with Minister of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook.

The Minister expressed his appreciation for the productive discussions and emphasised the importance of SMEs like Greencore Homes in achieving the government’s ambitious goal of building 1.5 million new homes. It’s reassuring to see genuine engagement and support for SMEs at the highest levels.

Jon commented “It was a constructive and open discussion, and encouraging to hear the Minister’s commitment to including SME voices in shaping the future of housebuilding in the UK. As a business focused on delivering Better Than Net Zero homes, we’re ready to play our part.”

We look forward to continuing this dialogue and contributing our insights and experience to help shape housing policy and delivery across the UK.

We’re thrilled to share that last week, Ian Pritchett Co-founder of Greencore Homes, won The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Sustainability award!

This well-deserved recognition celebrates nearly four decades of pioneering work in sustainable construction—from conserving historic buildings and revolutionising lime technology to developing Greencore’s Biond system, which locks up more carbon than it emits.

Ian said: “This award is recognition of the teams I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years, and proof that building better, healthier, lower-carbon homes within the One Planet Living framework—isn’t just possible, it’s essential.”

Congratulations Ian!

This EarthDay, we’re celebrating the power of sustainable choices.

Our Bicester factory is now powered by a 726-panel, 302kWp rooftop solar array and a 100kW/200kWh battery storage system, thanks to our collaboration with SNRG. This solution reduces our electricity bills and our carbon emissions.

From renewable energy to Better Than Net Zero Homes, Greencore is committed to building a greener future.

This week, our Communications Manager, James Pritchett, visited Abingdon Preparatory School to deliver a talk on sustainable housing to the Senior Section of the school. He shared how Greencore is building homes that are Better Than Net Zero – using natural materials, innovative design, and low-carbon construction methods to create homes fit for the future.

Following the talk, students from Year 8 took part in a hands-on workshop where they designed their own sustainable homes. From solar panels and wind turbines to green roofs and beehives, their creativity and enthusiasm were genuinely inspiring.

Thank you to the staff and students at Abingdon Prep for the warm welcome and for showing such a keen interest in the future of housing and the planet.

Today, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible team that makes Greencore Homes what it is. From our factory team crafting our Biond panels and the site teams bringing our homes to life, to the operational and support teams keeping everything running—you are the heart of our mission.

Building better than net zero homes and climate positive places isn’t easy—it takes dedication, innovation, and a shared passion for making a difference. Every day, our people go above and beyond to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of sustainable construction.

To every Greencore colleague: thank you for your hard work, commitment, and belief in what we do. We couldn’t do it without you!