Frequently Asked Questions

For every 10 homes we build, we permanently restore one hectare of native Irish woodland through our Woodland Bank. The homes are on dedicated residential sites. The woodland is on separate land, held in perpetuity by the NeighbourWood Stewardship Trust. Every home sale includes a permanent legal covenant linking the property to the Woodland Bank.

Separating housing and woodland makes both better. Residential sites achieve higher density using standard planning. Woodland parcels are large, contiguous, and ecologically optimal rather than small fragmented plots. It also makes the model exportable — partners source sites independently.

The Woodland Bank is permanent native Irish woodland held in freehold by the NeighbourWood Stewardship Trust (NST) — an independent company limited by guarantee with an irrevocable asset lock and conservation covenant. This land can never be sold, developed, or converted. A single 20-hectare Woodland Bank can support up to 200 homes.

All NeighbourWood homes are certified to BER A1 — the highest residential energy performance standard in Ireland. This is achieved through Passivhaus-specification construction, superior insulation, triple glazing, and airtight building envelopes.

Every home includes: 6kWp solar PV panels, 10kWh battery storage, ground-source heat pump for heating and hot water, MVHR with 75%+ heat recovery, whole-house water softening and treatment system, 7.4kW EV charger, and smart energy management.

Most NWC homes will be net energy positive over the year — producing more energy than they consume. You'll still be connected to the grid for times when you need to draw or export power, but your net cost should be near zero or positive.

The Energy Infrastructure Fee (€520/year) covers professional maintenance of your solar, battery, water treatment, and heat pump systems. This ensures optimal performance throughout their 25+ year lifespans.

There are three transparent fees totalling €2,220/year: Estate Management Fee (€850) for roads, lighting, and common areas paid to the OMC; Woodland Stewardship Fee (€850) for woodland management, access, and programming paid to the NST; and Energy Infrastructure Fee (€520) for energy systems maintenance paid to the NST.

Because you come out ahead. Your NWC home saves €3,220–5,010/year in energy and water treatment benefits. After €2,220 in fees, you're €1,000–2,790 better off than a typical homeowner — while living in a premium BER A1 home with permanent woodland access.

The fees are CPI-linked and reviewed periodically to ensure they cover actual costs. The Woodland Stewardship Fee is secured by a permanent covenant that runs with the land, ensuring ongoing funding for the Woodland Bank.

The Woodland Stewardship Fee is a positive covenant attached to your property. Non-payment can result in debt recovery action and ultimately enforcement against the property, similar to any other property obligation.

Our first micro-pilot (5 homes) is targeted for completion in 2026–2027, subject to planning approval and construction timelines. Register your interest to be among the first notified when reservations open.

Pilot pricing: 3-bedroom (120m²) at €495,000 and 4-bedroom (150m²) at €580,000. These prices include all energy systems, EV charger, water treatment, and permanent Woodland Bank access.

Yes. Our legal structure is designed to work with standard Irish mortgages. BER A1 homes qualify for green mortgage rates (0.8–1.2% discount). The fee covenant is similar to existing management company obligations that lenders are familiar with.

Help to Buy (up to €30k tax rebate, extended to 2029) and the First Home Scheme (state equity up to 30%) both apply to new NWC homes. BER A1 certification also qualifies you for the best green mortgage rates.

We plant native Irish species appropriate to each site's conditions: oak, birch, Scots pine, rowan, holly, hazel, alder, and willow — following DAFM guidelines for native woodland establishment. The specific mix is designed by qualified ecologists to maximise biodiversity and resilience.

We use third-party verification for carbon sequestration (approximately 7.1 tonnes CO₂/ha/year at maturity) and biodiversity metrics. This includes ongoing monitoring of species diversity, tree growth, soil carbon, and ecosystem health. Results are published annually and linked to each home.

NWC holds a 99-year exclusive license to environmental credit rights on Woodland Bank land. NWC pays the Trust a 10% license fee on net credit proceeds. As credits mature, homeowners may benefit through a Stewardship Dividend.