News archive for July, 2020
What more could you do to improve the sustainability of your project?
Posted on July 9th 2020
Achieving compliance with local policy is often not enough to appease planners, now more than ever they are requesting developers to go above and beyond in terms of sustainability. We have outlined some ambitious but achievable ways that demonstrate exemplary building performance to local authorities: WELL assessment – Incorporating a WELL strategy on both residential and commercial buildings will assist …
Are air source heat pumps the only solution?
Posted on July 9th 2020
Air source is not always the best option for Heat Pumps. Although they generally have lower capital costs, other issues such as roof space availability, visual intrusion, noise impacts and cold pluming from the external units can be considerable constraints along with lower carbon performance and higher heat costs to residents. Often through lack of available other options, air source …
Ambient heat network a planning risk in London
Posted on July 9th 2020
Ambient temperature heat networks are increasingly being considered, however, are not recognised to be heat networks by the GLA, thus presenting a planning risk where developments are in heat network priority areas. They designate them as individual heating systems which they say should only be specified where heat networks are determined to be unfeasible – this is unlikely to ever …
Driving concept design to reduce overheating
Posted on July 9th 2020
Addressing overheating early in the design process makes it easier to comply with the increasingly challenging TM59 overheating criteria. Our use of the new Good Homes Alliance (GHA) tool provides an excellent framework for doing so. Understanding the site context that surrounds the proposed buildings is important as much as the dwelling characteristics. Considering the use of light coloured surfaces …