GROCOTT & MURFIT
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GROCOTT & MURFIT
I PROFILE
Grocott & Murfit is a values-driven construction business, with an award-winning team based in the heart of North Norfolk. The company offers clients a full building service, from design to completion, incorporating the latest products and eco-friendly technologies. Daniel Grocott, MD, explained more to Hannah Barnett.
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nvironmental concerns are becoming ever more paramount in the construction industry. “Sustainability is at the
forefront of everyone’s mind these days,” MD Daniel Grocott said. “This isn’t just about the use of renewables, but what we actually build our houses from, where we get those materials and how they are made.” With turnover at close to £10 million, 40 directly employed staff and over 100 bespoke builds completed, Grocott
Grocott & Murfitt MD, Daniel Grocott
& Murfit has certainly made its mark in
for sustainable construction, including the
the sector.
notable Passivhaus build model.
The company was founded in 2007
The company first employed the
as a meeting of minds, with Mr Grocott’s
Passivhaus technique in 2014, before it was
background in architectural design comple-
a widely known practice. It incorporates rig-
mented by Director Jody Murfit’s experience
orous energy efficient design standards so
in building. Grocott & Murfit’s strength lies in
that buildings maintain an almost constant
its approach to partnership and passion for
temperature. Passivhaus buildings achieve
the community, which has led to a vast
a 75% reduction in space heating require-
portfolio of award-winning projects.
ments, compared to the standard practice for a UK new build.
The Passivhaus pioneers
Mr Grocott and Mr Murfit are qualified
In the last decade, awareness and
as accredited Passivhaus tradespeople.
demand for green structures has grown
The pair also arranged in-house training
exponentially, with those building homes
for several members of staff to educate
wanting to both reduce their carbon
them up to the standard. Although
footprint and ensure their living space is
the company do not always build to
as energy efficient as possible. Technical
Passivhaus, it encourages many of the
innovation supports this increasing appetite
principles in its builds.
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GROCOTT & MURFIT
I PROFILE
“As well as winning several awards
the country,” Mr Grocott explained. “But
for our Passivhaus design in Swaffham,
as well as being Passivhaus, it was also
Norfolk (which got us noticed) employing
built as a curve to avoid the root protec-
the technique has educated us and leads
tion area of a large lime tree. This made
us to want to achieve more than standard
it a very interesting project.”
building regulations,” said Mr Grocott. The Swaffham construction, designed by
M&E sustainability
noted architects Parsons + Whittley, won
In addition to the external fabric of a building,
the LABC East Anglia Building Excellence
there are several services Grocott & Murfit
Award and the Norfolk Association of
offers its clients to ensure that the building is
Architects New Residential Craftsmanship
as effective as it can be, from both an envi-
Award in 2016.
ronmental and an occupancy perspective.
“Swaffham wasn’t just our first Passivhaus build, it was one of the first in
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For example, Mechanical Ventilation/Heat Recovery (MVHR) pulls fresh filtered air into
a building whilst retaining most of the
panels for electricity, biomass to heat the
energy that has already been used for
barn and an air source heat pump for
heating. Air source heat pumps, which
the extension.
utilise energy from the air or ground outside
After a trial with a company electric
and convert it into heat, are also fast
vehicle, it is now also in the process
becoming a popular technology.
of moving all office staff to EVs, with car
The company emphasises the impor-
chargers at the office powered mostly
tance of such mechanical and electrical
from the solar PV array. “Our next step is to
services (M&E) to ensure high standards
trial an EV with a site manager,” Mr Grocott
are maintained for a successful project.
said. “We are proposing having a car
“Gone are the days of simply installing
charger installed at the start of the project
a boiler and radiators,” Mr Grocott
when we set up the temporary supply. We
explained. “This has evolved to us now
are also exploring using solar PV to power
having an in-house MEP Operations Director,
a site set up.”
Danny Wyer, who oversees all our projects
Alongside its workforce, the company is
and makes sure the correct systems are in
also encouraging clients to think in more
place and working as they should.”
sustainable ways when designing their
The M&E department ensures that a finished build meets the most exacting
builds by making sure they know all the options available.
standards in efficiency available on the market, down to the finer details like the provision of car charging points for an electric vehicles.
A sustainable centre Grocott & Murfit has put several measures in place to make its office, a converted barn with a new build extension, as green as possible. This includes adding solar PV
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GROCOTT & MURFIT
I PROFILE
“For example; if they are looking at a
Constructing the future
replacement dwelling, the first question
A notable ongoing project is the
may be: ‘do you need to knock the
CobBauge house in Fakenham, which is
existing building down to achieve your
the UK’s first CobBauge house, being built
project?’” Mr Grocott explained. “If the
in partnership with Hudson Architects.
main construction is steel frame, the
The CobBauge system comprises a
question may be: ‘do you need the pro-
double-layered wall. The inner layer con-
ject to be built using steel?’ If nothing
tains structural cob while the outer layer
more, we hope this process gets our
consists of insulating cob with hemp
customers to consider the impact they
shivs. These materials contain different
have on the planet.”
quantities of subsoil, water and straw or
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GROCOTT & MURFIT
I PROFILE
reeds. They are laid in formwork to dry as a monolithic construction material. “I think the CobBauge project is particularly interesting as it’s dealing with problems that are often overlooked, like embodied energy,” Mr Grocott explained. “We are literally building with the earth: no concrete, no steel, no polyurethane insulation that is harmful to the environment, just the natural materials all around us.” Having been involved in many cuttingedge projects in the construction industry, Grocott & Murfit looks set to continue its forward-thinking trajectory. “We want to remain ahead of the game
building green costs significantly more in the short term, so sometimes it isn’t possible. “Personally, I enjoy pushing the boundaries in building. I like projects that look to the future and that I am proud to be
and to lay the path for small building com-
involved with. I am driven by constructing
panies; showing that it’s possible to be more
forever homes that have minimal impact
sustainable,” Mr Grocott concluded. “Our
on the climate and provide a comfortable
main challenge is educating people to see
environment for the homeowner. That is
the benefits that lie beyond aesthetics. It
probably what first interested me in
inevitably comes down to cost. Quite often,
Passivhaus all those years ago.”
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