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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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The Benefits of Dynamic Simulation Energy Modelling at Concept Design Stage
A recent dynamic simulation exercise for a client has highlighted the importance of early consideration of a “joined-up” building services and fabric strategy. This ensures an optimised heating solution delivers comfort and acceptable running costs. The use of our dynamic simulation energy modelling software greatly improved the accuracy of this process over standard SBEM compliance [...]
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Tagged Energy efficiency, Energy modelling, Insulation, Part L, Refurbishment
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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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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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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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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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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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Energy improvements at Parkview and Sunrise Estate
We were recently commissioned to carry out an Energy Audit for a community led refurbishment project in the London Borough of Havering. The aim of the project was to ensure that any future upgrades to the energy performance of the three 1960s tower blocks on the Parkview and Sunrise Estate are undertaken to the [...]
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Tagged CO2 emissions, Energy modelling, Refurbishment, Sustainability
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DECC funding for tower block community retrofit study
Richard Hodkinson Consultancy is to carry out a study on a community retrofit project, thanks to a Department for Energy and Climate Change grant awarded through the Local Energy Assessment Fund last week. The practice is working with the Parkview and Sunrise Estate Tenants and Residents Association (PETRA) in Hornchurch, East London. PETRA is a group [...]
Building Regulations Part L1b: Improvements to existing dwellings
Building Regulations Part L1b: Conservation of Fuel and Power, applies to Existing Dwellings. The regulation is broad in reach and is intended to make notifiable any significant building modifications that are undertaken. The Approved Document for Part L1b gives guidance on the way in which compliance with the regulation may be demonstrated. The document is [...]
