How Chris Thompson of Leeds-based Citu plans to build 500 sustainable homes a year

Chris Thompson, the Managing Director of Citu, plans to build hundreds of sustainable homes every year, writes Deputy Business Editor Greg Wright.
Chris Thompson, founder and managing director of CituChris Thompson, founder and managing director of Citu
Chris Thompson, founder and managing director of Citu

A time traveller from 19th century Britain would be perplexed by most aspects of modern life, until they walked on to a building site.

They might find it strangely familiar, according to Chris Thompson, who plans to create hundreds of jobs at his sustainable development company Citu.

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Mr Thompson believes the construction sector must embrace change to shift the focus from outdated processes to developing products that protect the environment.

“If you teleported a Victorian on to a site today, they might wonder what a hard hat was, but otherwise they would just crack on because things haven’t changed that much,’’ he said.

Leeds-based Citu aims to tackle climate change through developments that cause a stir in the industry and lead to widespread adoption of sustainable buildings.

Mr Thompson, who is the founder and managing director of Citu, said: “If we are really to tackle climate change we need to break down silos and find places that work for people.

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“What we’re increasingly aware of is how incredibly important it is for businesses to offer their staff healthy, positive workplaces.”

The company has transformed Little Kelham, a former industrial area of Sheffield, into a development of 250 low-carbon homes, offices, and leisure facilities.

Little Kelham is home to several old metalworks buildings, including the 19th century Eagle Works. The five-storey former mill has been sensitively renovated by Citu, retaining the original window architecture, timber beams, exposed brickwork and wrought iron columns. Citu recently signed three new tenants for the Little Kelham development, which is continuing to flourish during the pandemic.

Citu’s £250m Climate Innovation District in Leeds, which forms part of the city’s South Bank Leeds regeneration plans, will harness the latest technology to create 800 low carbon homes alongside manufacturing, office and leisure space.

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In late 2020, work started on Leeds’ first zero carbon commercial building. The Place, on the South Bank, will feature a rooftop with a tennis court, yoga spaces and space for events, relaxation, exercise and socialising.

The air inside is filtered with warmed fresh air, the windows are floor-to-ceiling triple glazing that floods the building with daylight and helps control the temperature.

To increase productivity Mr Thompon invested in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Leeds South Bank, named Citu Works.

This is where the zero emission houses and apartments that make up the Climate Innovation District, which is believed to be the biggest urban sustainable development in the UK, are made.

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Mr Thompson was inspired to establish Citu in 2004 because he wanted to change the cities are built.

“I couldn’t understand why we weren’t doing things differently,’’ he said. “I decided to act. It makes sense environmentally and economically because it’s about wasting less.

“Why would we continue building things in an inefficient way? The solutions are there, you just need to piece them together.

“We’ve set up a factory on the south bank of Leeds and there is a lot of potential there to increase capacity,’’ he said.

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“There is a chronic housing issue and we have got to drive innovation at the front end and build homes which are more energy efficient. You need to take out processes that are inefficient to improve productivity. The real prize is energy efficiency and improved productivity to create great places.”

He’s clearly proud of the Little Kelham development in Sheffield which has retained its historic character.

He added: “It’s known for its real ale and traditional pubs. It’s very trendy with links to the creative and media industry and is very well connected. The public realm makes it easier for people to navigate the area.”

He believes society needs to reflect on how it manages and sources energy.

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“We have never installed fossil fuels,’’ said Mr Thompson. “It doesn’t make any sense for us to rely on them. As a nation, we have spent a lot of money on making gas our primary fuel,.

The key thing is to construct a home that requires less heat; you need to retain more heat within the envelope of the home.”

The development in Leeds provides a template for lasting change.

“We have built around 66 houses on the south bank in Leeds,’’ he said. “The next phase is an apartment block. It will help to change the demographic of the people who can access the development.

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“A primary school and care home are expected to open in 2024. Ultimately, we have to change the way we live..Around 70 per cent of all carbon emissions come from cities. Most of the emissions are created by travelling less than two miles.

“If you remove cars from the landscape, you create an environment where people want to walk and ride bikes. There are so many positive benefits.”

Citu’s 98 -strong workforce is set to expand over the next few years.

“We expect the number of employees to more than double with more locally-based long term construction jobs,’’ said Mr Thompson.

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“We hope to grow from building 150 homes a year to 500 homes a year and employ up to 300 staff. We have a wide range of different skill types and it’s well documented that it’s a challenge to find staff in the construction sector, particularly in management and leadership roles. “

With a new workforce emerging which places a premium on protecting the environment, these skill shortages may not last for long.

Chris Thompson, founded Citu in 2004 with the goal of helping to develop the sustainable cities of the 21st century.

He describes Citu as a company which challenges conventional thinking and embraces innovation.

The business combines his background in construction with a passion for architecture and cities.

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