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Delivering a Sustainable Future
The Technical Housing Standards Review and the NPPF
An announcement from the Technical Housing Standards Review Panel is anticipated imminently which we hope will signal improvements to the relevance and compliance efficiency for the currently wide range of housing related standards. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published in March 2012. As we reported last month, the 12 month transitional arrangements formally ended [...]
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Tagged Assessments, BREEAM, Code, Environmental standards, Housing quality, Planning, Sustainability
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BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment and Planning
Existing buildings are currently responsible for approximately 27% of CO2 emissions produced in the UK. With local planning authorities updating their policies to reflect the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), in the absence of the adopted local plan, the use of BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment is expected to increase significantly. Paragraph 95 of the NPPF states [...]
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Tagged Assessments, BREEAM, CO2 emissions, Environmental standards, Planning, Refurbishment, Sustainability, Zero carbon
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We extend our work on Europe’s largest regeneration project
Hampton House – Nine Elms Following our work through the planning process, Richard Hodkinson Consultancy has recently been appointed to continue involvement on this high-quality mixed-use scheme. We are to provide a range of environmental assessments through the design and build program. The Nine Elms project, on the south bank of the Thames, is the [...]
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Tagged Assessments, BREEAM, CO2 emissions, Code, Energy Performance Certification, Environmental standards, Part L, SAP, Sustainability
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Kim Coleman joins us to extend our BREEAM services
Kim Coleman has recently joined our BREEAM team to further enhance this growing service. Kim brings with her a wide range of technical experience from BRE and Carillion. Our BREEAM team are able to undertake the full range of BREEAM assessments. Coupled with the BREEAM work we can also carry out energy assessments and modelling [...]
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Tagged Assessments, BREEAM, Energy modelling, Sustainability
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NEW – BREEAM Simple Buildings Manual and Criteria Released
Following our article last month introducing BREEAM Simple Buildings, the new guidance was released by BRE on 13th March 2013. After reviewing the criteria within this new BREEAM scheme we think this is a positive change for our clients. Many small commercial units within larger schemes could now be assessed using this cheaper and simpler [...]
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Tagged Assessments, BREEAM, Environmental standards, Guides, Planning, Sustainability
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BREEAM Simple Buildings
The cost of a BREEAM assessment varies depending on the nature of the building assessed. A new standard ‘BREEAM Simple Buildings’ may reduce the cost of assessment for certain developments. BREEAM Certification Fees BREEAM Scheme Total Fees Registration Fees Design stage Post Construction Stage BREEAM Bespoke £3,540 £2,250 £900 £390 BREEAM New Construction – Other [...]
2012 for Richard Hodkinson Consultancy
The past 12 months has seen continued growth within the practice, both in personnel and work output. The following provides a quick review of the successes for Richard Hodkinson Consultancy in 2012. One of the more significant changes in the year has been the development of new services. This has benefitted our clients by offering [...]
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Tagged Assessments, BREEAM, Code, Energy efficiency, Environmental standards, Planning, Sustainability
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Looking forward to 2013
Planning The wider adoption of Community Infrastructure Charging Schedules (the use of planning obligations will be more restricted from April 2014); The expiration on 27 March 2013 of the 12-month NPPF transitional period, designed to allow some protection for existing local plans depending on the date of their adoption, even where there is a limited [...]
Richard Hodkinson Consultancy working as energy and sustainability consultant on 3 of the top 10 regeneration projects in the UK
Richard Hodkinson Consultancy is working as energy and sustainability consultant on three of the top ten regeneration projects in the UK: Greenwich Peninsula, Royal Arsenal and Kidbrooke Village. The Top 100 Regeneration Projects 2012 in the UK was published earlier this year by Planning and Regeneration & Renewal. At Kidbrooke, we prepared the Energy Strategy [...]
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Tagged BREEAM, Energy efficiency, Environmental standards, Planning, Refurbishment, Sustainability
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Changes to Considerate Constructors Scheme 2013
Over the past 3 years the Considerate Constructors Scheme has undergone a thorough review. As a result Considerate Constructors felt that the scheme should be more challenging to the industry but still remain accessible. The changes will be taking effect from 1st January 2013 and will include a new code of conduct, new checklist and [...]
BREEAM Surface Water Runoff on Code for Sustainable Homes Sites
Design teams working on mixed-use sites assessed under both the Code and BREEAM need to apply caution before assuming that a Code compliant flood risk and drainage strategy will automatically qualify for the equivalent credits under BREEAM. Whilst BREEAM and Code surface water runoff and flood risk credits appear similar, there are some key differences [...]
Inclusive Design in BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment
The BREEAM Domestic Refurbishments assessment includes an Inclusive Design credit which follows the 16 Lifetime Homes design criteria and Part M of the Building Regulations (2010). An Inclusive Design Access Statement template is provided by BREEAM and is broken into 3 sections; one credit is awarded for each section which has been met. We have [...]
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Tagged BREEAM, Inclusive Design Champion, Part M, Refurbishment
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BREEAM New Construction 2011 energy credit update
Under BREEAM 2011, the Energy Performance Ratio (EPR) was introduced as a new methodology for calculating ENE 1 (CO2 reduction) credits. The EPR is a triple metric, assessing energy demand, energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and represents a significant departure from the previous method, which assessed only CO2 emissions. It was introduced to promote energy [...]
BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment – what’s new?
The BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment scheme opened for registrations on Monday 2nd July 2012; it’s a performance based assessment and certification scheme for domestic buildings undergoing refurbishment and has replaced EcoHomes which is being phased out. The Code for Sustainable Homes is only appropriate for new build and therefore this BREEAM scheme will be important for [...]
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Tagged BREEAM, Environmental standards, Refurbishment, Sustainability
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Making sure sites pass BREEAM Post Construction assessments
After a successful BREEAM Design Stage assessment many sites lose vital credits at the Post Construction stage due to the transfer of information from the design team to the site teams. These credits tend to be the ones that are not included within design specifications and drawings, they are additional commitments the client and design [...]
BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) will be accepting BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment registrations from the start of July 2012, until then EcoHomes will continue to be used for refurbishment projects. BRE have stated that there will not be a gap between the end of EcoHomes and the start of BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment; instead there will be an overlap [...]
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Tagged BREEAM, Environmental standards, Refurbishment, Sustainability
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Shell and Core BREEAM for small commercial spaces
Many of our large residential schemes have relatively small commercial spaces which have to reach BREEAM standards for planning. We show below our recommended approach which should avoid any uncertainty: BREEAM New Construction Shell & Core Assessments are a less complex assessment specifically designed for later tenant fit out of commercial spaces. We recommend the [...]
BREEAM Excellent – is it a step too far for smaller buildings?
With the release of BREEAM New Construction in July 2011 some common problems are emerging within the industry. Planning authorities are routinely asking for BREEAM Excellent but is this now too much for small developments to manage, before the release of BREEAM small buildings later this year. BREEAM Excellent is no easy task, especially now with [...]
BREEAM Communities in planning policy
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) launched BREEAM Communities in 2010. It sets out a range of criteria for establishing the sustainability of planning and development proposals. It goes beyond the traditional scope of BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes to extend into new areas such as business, community and place-making. Local authorities are starting to [...]
BREEAM Communities
BREEAM Communities: Categories & Issues Climate and Energy CE1: Flood Risk Assessment* CE2: Surface Water Runoff* CE3: Rainwater SUD CE4: Heat Island CE5: Energy Efficiency* CE6: Onsite Renewable(s)* CE7: Future Renewables* CE8: Services CE9: Water Consumption* Community Section COM1: Inclusive Design* COM2: Consultation* COM3: Development User Guide* COM4: Management and Operation Place Shaping PS1: Sequential [...]
