HEMSPAN uses HEMP to promote sustainable construction, propose large climate-positive communities, achieve cost parity with traditional building methods, and develop innovative technologies and products for environmentally friendly construction materials.
In search of sustainable solutions to environmental challenges, Hemspan is dedicated to harnessing the possibilities of hemp as a viable alternative to traditional construction. By invigorating large-scale hemp cultivation, they pave the way for sustainable ingredients.
In the 19th edition of Innovation Platform, we spoke with founder and CEO Matthew Belcher to discuss the possibilities of Hemp and applications in construction. Almost a year later, we caught up with Matthew to discuss the key points, results and milestones achieved to advance climate-positive housing.
Milestone Contract
Over the past year, we have worked extensively through various proof of concept projects, introducing the versatility and effectiveness of hemp in both small and large applications.
Hemspan has ensured direct design, built contracts with well-known clients, and created traditional ultra-high performance climate-positive homes. The home has a lifecycle carbon footprint (A1-C4) equivalent to 142 kilograms per square meter, and is expected to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of 114%.
Once completed, the project is expected to attract much attention from both industry and landowners. Winning this opportunity was a major milestone given the reputation of the client and the wide range of requirements that need to be met, including certification and insurance qualifications.
Towards large-scale production
Recently, we submitted a pre-appliance to the UK’s first large climate-positive community. Our proposal includes 2,000 home buildings using the Bopas-Accredited Hemspan Biohaus® system. The home has a variety of housing units and public buildings such as community centres and educational facilities.
This proposal is groundbreaking due to its innovative construction methods and ultra-low life cycle embodied carbon performance aimed at achieving. Additionally, this development will serve as a catalyst for HEMSPAN to expand into vertically integrated processing and production of Biohaus® systems. They already have a location and a landowner partner for their mass production facility in Rochford, South Essex.
We are not the UK’s first hemp construction company, but the Rochford project operates on a completely unprecedented scale, marking a major milestone for both the US and UK green building landscapes.
Achieve cost parity with traditional construction
Hemspan has developed a comprehensive business plan and design for vertically integrated mass production facilities. Our analysis and careful planning have demonstrated that we can deliver a home with carbon performance that has a near-zero lifecycle embodied, resulting in zero utility bills, all at the same cost as traditional home construction.
Detailed planning and design also allowed us to assess the cost of delivering solutions at scale. We are confident that we can achieve cost parity in mainstream construction while providing excellent performance.
Industry collaboration
Margent Farm received significant national coverage of the Flathouse, the first home in the UK, fully built from Hemp, and its innovative approach influenced the system development and vision of Hemspan.
In a partnership with Margent Farm, we launched a research and development company operating as a subsidiary of Hemspan. The joint venture aims to explore opportunities for biocomposite construction materials and interior design products. Our goal is to replace plastic, and often replace wood with products made from hemp and bioresin.
The project has so far raised £200,000 in seed funding, and the business is producing biocomposite panels, which already have a growing list of orders.
Advances in hemp technology
One of the important products we are developing is a structural board called Hemposite®. It is a critical component of the Biohaus® system and is manufactured and distributed to a wider market.
Additionally, pre-seed funds have been secured for ventures focused on developing innovative processing technologies for industrial hemp. This new process creates construction materials that reduce capital costs while reducing operational energy by 75% during manufacturing.
The goal of this venture is to establish a robust, low energy, and low capital emissions supply chain for HEMSPAN. This strategy helps improve profit margins and achieve cost parity with traditional building methods, but all significantly reduces carbon emissions in processing and manufacturing, and increases the embodied carbon performance of the home that was ultimately provided.
Rochford’s Rethink: Policy Fits Location-Based Replay
The proposed Rochford Park development in Essex has become a nationally important pilot of the All-Party Congress Group (APPG) on Hemp Carbon Capture and Rural Development. Hemspan is an active member of the APPG and works closely with its secretariat, tenacious carbon. Rochford’s local MP Bayo Alaba also co-chairs the group.
The cross-party group defends decarbonisation using industrial hemp, generating highly integrated carbon credits and supporting rural work. Rochford Park is a flagship demonstration for these purposes, featuring proposals for 2,000 climate-positive homes built using the Biohaus® system, a modular factory, and a 5,000 hectares of hemp farming scheme.
As Rochford’s newly elected MP, Bayo Alaba has become a key political champion of the project both locally, both at Westminster. He sees it as a generational opportunity to attract green investment, create skilled jobs and revitalize constituencies through sustainable industries.
The site itself is immersed in hemp heritage. The landowners behind this scheme operated the UK’s largest hemp farm in the 1990s and 2000s, growing more than 4,000 acres at their peak. Our collaboration with Hemspan reflects a shared vision. It is to reconnect historical expertise with modern climate innovation and create new models of low-carbon-based growth.
Additionally, we are working with Adam Architecture on Rochford Park’s Master Planning. Adam Architecture successfully completed several notable schemes, including Poundbury in Dorset and Nansleden in Cornwall.
Our work at Rochford addresses many key standards related to placemaking, growing living and sustainable transportation. What really sets the Rochford Park apart is the construction technology that will be implemented from a mass production facility. Already, we have attracted strong interest from several local home builders who want to use our technology for this scheme.
Funds
Since article last year, we have closed another funding round to raise £1.5 million. This brings the total funding to date to date to £4 million. In mid-2025, a new funding round will be held to raise £5 million for the interim fire station production facility.
Hemspan is encouraged by the UK’s evolving funding situation for sustainable housing. This now increases opportunities for collaboration between local governments and central governments. An additional £500 million has been allocated to the Affordable Housing Program, raising its annual budget to a highest £3.1 billion over a decade. The funds aim to deliver thousands of new social and affordable homes. Increased government support underscores its commitment to sustainable housing. At Hemspan, we are ready to continue to take advantage of these opportunities to deliver environmentally friendly, affordable homes across the UK. We have an emerging project with a combined district council in East Anglia and showcase our ability to address some of the problems the UK is currently facing.
Encourage eco-friendly buildings
At Hemspan, we believe that promoting eco-friendly buildings in the UK requires a multifaceted approach. An approach that advocates innovation, policy coordination, and industry collaboration.
Progress is being made, but building regulations must go further to proactively encourage sustainable methods and materials. Clearer guidance and faster approval processes for low-carbon technologies and bio-based materials significantly reduce barriers to adoption.
There is an urgent need for improved awareness and training within the construction sector. Architects, builders, and planners must have the knowledge to integrate sustainable design and construction practices from the start.
Many sustainable materials, including bio-based solutions such as hemp, still face logistics and scaling challenges. Strengthening domestic production capacity and investing in the circular economy will help ensure that more environmentally friendly materials are accessible and cost-effective. The Rochford Park plan goes a long way in supporting this approach.
The focus should shift from operational emissions alone to include materialized carbon. This means assessing cradle-to-grave material and promoting low-collision construction techniques and materials with regenerative properties.
The future of UK construction needs to be rooted in regenerative thinking. With proper policies, partnerships and education in place, the sector is truly embracing green change, and Hemspan® is proud to be at the forefront of its movement.
This article will also be featured in the 22nd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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