News
Planning Success at Lombard Square
Posted on November 29th 2024
Berkeley Homes Capital’s Lombard Square development has been granted planning consent. Providing 328 residential units and residential facilities. The approval allows the next phase of urban regeneration of a former brownfield site in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. We have provided a range of services to support the planning application, each with its own challenges which were successfully addressed: Energy …
Decarbonising Existing Heat Networks Without Future Homes Standard Clarity
Posted on November 29th 2024
Decisions on heat network decarbonisation plans are being made in the absence of clarity on the content and timing of the introduction of the Future Homes Standard (FHS). Particularly important is the approach to ‘sleeving’ of new low carbon plant to the relevant new development phases. The consultation based this on the kW capacity of new plant, as opposed to …
Tougher Water Efficiency Standards Continue to Expand in England
Posted on November 29th 2024
Planning authorities in southern England are increasingly seeking to adopt more onerous water efficiency standards. New developments in such locations should first prioritise achieving this with practical and cost-effective solutions, such as flow restriction devices, efficient white goods, and encouragement of behavioural changes. Homes can achieve 85 l/p/day on average from such measures. Reductions beyond this are likely to require …
Increased Carbon Offsetting Liabilities Linked to New Calculation Method
Posted on November 29th 2024
London Boroughs are increasingly looking to link development offset contributions to shortfalls in energy balance rather than CO₂ reductions. This is a fundamentally different approach which could lead to larger contributions being owed and a greater adoption of PHPP as a calculation methodology. Offsetting contributions are required where new major development cannot achieve a standard of zero carbon, usually demonstrable by …
The Benefits of Pursuing BREEAM Infrastructure Certification
Posted on October 30th 2024
Infrastructure projects have a significant role in mitigating environmental impacts, maximising the sustainability benefits of such works, and minimising life-cycle costs. The BREEAM Infrastructure certification scheme (formerly known as CEEQUAL) has now been operating for over 20 years and is the world’s leading sustainability certification for infrastructure, civil engineering, landscaping and public realm projects. It follows a similar assessment process …
Potential Heat Network Zones Mapped Out
Posted on October 30th 2024
Plans for the delivery of the heat network zoning regulations continue apace, despite the lack of a formal response from the Government to the consultation or a confirmed implementation date. The initial outputs of the Zoning Pilot Program have been published by the Government in the form of zone maps which can be accessed via this link – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-network-zoning-maps. The …
Exhaust Air Heat Pumps: Beware The Differences
Posted on October 30th 2024
Exhaust air heat pumps (EAHPs) differ widely in how they work, how they perform and where they are suitable. Here are some key performance requirements to consider when specifying: Energy usage / EPC ratings: As the efficiency of the products varies significantly, so does the resultant resident energy cost and EPC rating. You should be ensuring that the product achieves …
Planning Success at Lea Bridge Gas Works
Posted on October 30th 2024
St William’s Lea Bridge Gasworks development has been granted planning consent. Providing 643 residential units and 1,338m² of flexible residential facilities and commercial use, the development will regenerate a former brownfield site and create a range of urban connections near the Lea Bridge train station, on the London Borough of Waltham Forest. We have provided a range of services to …
Improving social value in development
Posted on September 27th 2024
Measuring development’s impact on occupant’s wellbeing is spread across planning and Building Regulations. Improving the scope of this work helps further explain how your developments put people and their experiences at the forefront of development. This is an element of a social value assessment. Social Value UK define social value as the relative importance that people place on the wellbeing …
Effective Heat Network Management
Posted on September 27th 2024
When it comes to proper and effective management of a heat network, ‘the buck stops with’ the Landlord. The landlord’s primary responsibility is to protect the interest of its leaseholders, and a poorly managed heat network can present a significant risk that this won’t be achieved, even if certain obligations are delegated to managing agents, ESCOs or CEM contractors. Managing …