Grocott & Murfit

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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