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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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Planning implications for schemes with large water using features
There are advantages and disadvantages of incorporating large water-using features into landscape designs. On the one hand water features add amenity value, ecological value and can be used as a technique for attenuating surface water run-off. On the other hand they usually require large volumes of water and can often consume large amounts of energy. [...]
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Tagged Climate change, Drainage, Ecology, Environmental standards, Planning, Sustainability, Water
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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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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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Planning Reforms & the NPPF – Change, Uncertainty and Opportunity
The end of March sees the 12-month anniversary of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). With this comes the expiry of the transitional arrangements, and moves the industry into a period of both uncertainty and opportunity. The NPPF was published on the 27 March 2012, and took immediate effect. It sets a clear message [...]
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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The changing skyline of London – green roofs playing their part
More and more green roofs are being used in schemes, predominately driven through the planning process, especially in London. In this article we look at the benefits green roofs can bring to not only the development to which it belongs, but also the local area in which it is located. Green roofs have been around [...]
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Tagged Building materials, Ecology, Energy efficiency, Insulation, Planning, Sustainability
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Northstowe New Town a Step Closer
Gallagher’s development of the first phase of Northstowe is a step closer after the joint committee of members of South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council resolved to grant outline planning permission, subject to the completion of a legal agreement. Richard Hodkinson Consultancy supported the application through preparation of an Energy Statement for the [...]
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Tagged Energy efficiency, Environmental standards, Planning, Sustainability, Zero carbon
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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 [...]
CASE STUDY: CHP viability in domestic scenarios
In line with the London Plan, energy supply through CHP is becoming the norm in new London developments. The Mayor has introduced mandatory use of CHP in developments of 500+ dwellings through planning guidelines. Nonetheless, Richard Hodkinson Consultancy is experiencing an increasing number of London based Local Authorities demanding CHP on new residential developments, [...]
NPPF & financial viability: impact of energy and sustainability
The issue of viability in planning has moved up the agenda this year with the publication in March of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which requires local authorities to consider viability in both plan-making and decision-taking. Schemes need to be proven to be viable to demonstrate economic sustainability. It is therefore very important to [...]
Delivery of district heating on phased developments – things to consider
District heat networks (generally with CHP) are increasingly common for medium and large scale developments in order to provide the CO2 reductions necessary for planning policy and Building Regulations compliance. Delivery of these networks on phased developments is complex. For effective delivery, it is important to consider a number of issues at an early stage. [...]
Planning success on King Edward VII Hospital
In early 2010, City and Country appointed Richard Hodkinson Consultancy to provide both energy and sustainability strategies for the redevelopment of King Edwards VII Hospital in Midhurst. The £180 million plans to restore the hospital has now been granted planning approval and is set to commence work in the coming months. King Edward VII Hospital [...]
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Tagged Planning, Refurbishment, Renewable energy, Sustainability
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NPPF – Economic Growth through Sustainable Development
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) The Government’s reform to the planning process has three fundamental objectives: Put power in the hands of communities; To better support growth; To protect places of value. There is general agreement that the final document represents a significant improvement upon the earlier draft, not least that is provides [...]
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 [...]
BREEAM Communities – assessment criteria
BREEAM COMMUNITIES CRITERIA CLIMATE CHANGE New developments should reduce their contribution to climate change and mitigate for the anticipated impacts in the future. This category considers flood risk, energy and water efficiency, renewable energy provision and building services. RESOURCES Master plan proposals should include consideration of the efficient use of resources, including water, materials and [...]
Air Source Heat Pumps and renewable energy planning policy
AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS IN THE UK Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) are a mature technology, and widely used in Europe. Due to their efficiency they can greatly reduce the energy needed for heating homes. However, they are relatively new to the UK home heating market, and their status a low carbon technology is controversial [...]
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Tagged CO2 emissions, Heat pumps, Planning, Renewable energy, SAP
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