News archive for April, 2026
Gateway Approval for Bow Phase 2
Posted on April 29th 2026
Hodkinson Consultancy is pleased to have supported the successful Gateway 2 approval of Bow Common Phase 2. Achieving Gateway 2 consent represents a key milestone in progressing the project through the Building Safety Regulator process. Located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the development comprises a series of new apartment blocks, incorporating ground floor commercial space. It is the …
Exhaust Air Heat Pumps in Part L 2026
Posted on April 29th 2026
Air‑to‑water Exhaust Air Heat Pumps (EAHPs) no longer meet compliance under the newly released Part L 2026 regulations, while air‑to‑air systems do. Published on 24th March 2026, this update marks the next major revision to the Part L building regulations. EAHPs provide low carbon heating and hot water with an additional benefit of some cooling making them a useful to …
Part L Requires Renewable Energy Generation
Posted on April 29th 2026
Part L 2026 introduces a new functional requirement for providing practicable renewable energy generation (kWh). The functional requirement is based on renewable energy production of 71 kWh/year/ m² of ground floor area (differs for flats). Though any renewable technology can be used, this value has been based on installing unshaded photovoltaic (PV) panels at a 45° pitch, facing south-east or south-west, …
Column Placement Improves Thermal Performance & GIA
Posted on April 29th 2026
Thermal performance is often framed around insulation and wall build-ups. But one of the most effective moves happens much earlier – deciding where structural columns are placed. When columns cut through the external wall line, they interrupt insulation and create thermal bridges. That leads to higher heat loss and pushes designers towards thicker, more complex walls to compensate. By keeping …