News archive for 2016
Caution urged for connection to area-wide heat networks
Posted on April 6th 2016
It is becoming increasingly common for planning authorities to require developments to commit to connecting to existing or future planned area-wide heat networks. From our experience, extreme caution should be taken in considering whether this is reasonable and in the best interests of the development and its future residents. The theory behind district heating is that bigger heat networks are …
Cost Benefits of Thermal Bridging Analysis
Posted on February 18th 2016
Thermal bridging analysis to improve Part L performance offers a highly cost-effective way to improve building quality and achieve carbon dioxide reduction targets. Carrying out the analysis should be considered for all construction types being assessed under Part L 2013, even if bespoke calculations are required to ascertain accurate linear thermal transmittance values (psi-values). Our analysis has indicated that, for …
Active Water Management: New Technology for Attenuation
Posted on February 12th 2016
Our clients are showing interest in a new approach to water management. Active water management attenuation systems allow the outflow of stored water to be fully controlled, in contrast to a passive system which continuously drains at a set discharge rate. This control allows the attenuated water to be used for purposes which would otherwise require separate tanks, such as firefighting water …
Christmas Quiz 2015 Winner is Announced
Posted on February 8th 2016
We are delighted to announce that the winner of our 2015 Christmas quiz is Tim Sharman of St George. Tim generously nominated the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity to receive our £500 donation, which was made in the memory of his father Patrick Sharman. Congratulations to everyone else who submitted the correct answers. For those of you who are still struggling, …
Publication of New Acoustic Technical Guidance
Posted on February 8th 2016
ProPG: Planning & Noise is out for consultation from 21 January to 31 March 2016 and can be found here. National Planning Practice Guidance makes it clear that noise is a material consideration in the determination of planning applications, and a key aspect of sustainable development. The NPPF states that planning policy and decision takers should ‘aim to avoid noise …
PV a more cost effective option than better fabric to reduce carbon dioxide
Posted on January 7th 2016
The cost of PV panels has come down by around 85% in the last 5 years. Maximising the amount of PV is now more cost-effective than enhanced energy efficiency measures in achieving CO2 reductions over Part L (2013) for houses. In addition to cheaper PV panels the cost of PV panels per kWp substantially reduces as the amount installed increases. …
Acton High Street & Gunnersbury Lane – Planning Application Approved
Posted on January 5th 2016
We are pleased to announce that the application for a new residential and commercial development in Acton Town Centre was recently granted planning consent by the London Borough of Ealing. We prepared Energy and Sustainability Statements to support the application. The development included 14 flats and ground floor flexible commercial space. We worked with the applicant, Barroerock Construction Ltd, to …
Part L – 2013 – Confusion – Care needed
Posted on January 7th 2016
We are concerned that several clients are confusing Building Regulations with the Approved Documents for Part L. The Building Notice for the site will state the relevant date of the Notice. This date defines the version of the Approved Documents to be used through various procedures including any transitional arrangements. Recent Building Notices require compliance with Building Regulations 2010, irrespective …
Hodkinson Consultancy Joins UK-GBC Healthy Homes Task Group
Posted on January 5th 2016
We are pleased to be members of the UK Green Building Council’s task group on health and wellbeing in homes. All of this work falls into the WorldGBC’s Better Places for People campaign which aims to raise awareness of the health and wellbeing impacts of buildings and increase the uptake of greener, healthier buildings. This utilises our expertise and practical …