VASO Global, a pioneering panel manufactured from recycled glass, has been approved for a new housing scheme in Scotland, which the manufacturer calls “the first of many developments across the world which will utilise this solution.”
The products have been designed to provide affordable, low-energy cost, low-carbon homes which are efficient to keep cool in summer and warm in winter. This will enable homes to be built at speed to supporting Scotland’s net zero and sustainability goals.
The innovative product has been designed and developed at VASO Manufacturing’s HQ in Dumfries and Galloway and has now been given the green light for a small affordable housing project on a brownfield site at Closeburn, ten miles north of Dumfries.
The development comprises four homes plus a home working space and visitor bedroom and has benefitted from support from a range of national and local partners, including South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) – the region’s economic and community development agency.
The Closeburn homes are designed to be available for residents from the local area looking for attractive, thermally comfortable homes at affordable rents.
Eddie Black, VASO Global’s co-founder and CEO, said: “We are delighted that Dumfries and Galloway Council has granted planning permission for the Closeburn development – it’s a real milestone moment for VASO.
“VASO Global has been three years in the making and Closeburn marks the first of many developments across the world which will utilise this solution.
“We are really proud that a product made in Scotland starts its journey right here on home soil in a country renowned for its pioneering innovations. It’s a really exciting moment for us all. This innovation allows us to design homes for the future which are thermally comfortable in all conditions. The VASO build solution is cheap to heat and to cool meaning residents keep cool from the summer heat, as well as keep warm in winter.
“We engaged early on with those involved with the construction industry and we are pleased that Dumfries and Galloway Council has seen the potential of VASO and has given this scheme the go-ahead.
“It shows the value of us listening and being flexible when it comes to understanding what is required by stakeholders, including governments, councils, housing bodies, environmental organisations, and communities, and also believing in a solution which brings so many benefits to society including to residents and the planet.”
The VASO panels for the homes will be manufactured and constructed off-site at the company’s new 60,000sqft manufacturing site at Irongray Park, Dumfries, flat-packed, and reassembled on site.
Jane Morrison-Ross, chief executive at South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), said: “SOSE is excited to be on this journey with VASO Global, which is just the sort of innovative company we want to work alongside. In doing so, we can unlock solutions which can benefit not just the South (of Scotland), but the UK and rest of the world.”
Mike Staples, chief executive of South of Scotland Community Housing, said: “We have been working in partnership to plan and deliver housing innovation with Nith Valley Leaf Trust over a number of years and therefore it seems fitting that this project should be central to testing the pioneering VASO housing solution.”
Mike Steele of Nith Valley Leaf Trust said: “We are really pleased to have obtained planning permission for this exciting new affordable housing project. This means we can now move forward to seek funding, buy the land and work with partners to build these state-of-the-art modern homes. We are particularly keen to retain or attract young people with a connection to Closeburn who will enhance our community as well as showcase community led housing.”
VASO Global recently secured more than £5m in investment to help it tackle the UK’s housing crisis. The investment has been provided by a range of organisations including PXN Ventures, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise through a collaboration with Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), Innovate UK Loans Limited – a division of UK Research and Innovation, and Eco Group which will be the delivery partner for the initial VASO Global build projects.
The latest round of financing enables VASO to develop its manufacturing processes at its new manufacturing site in Dumfries, creating up to 70 jobs within the next five years. A VASO demonstration home is also planned to be built in September.
