News
BREEAM 2024 Award Finalists
Posted on July 2nd 2024
We provided BREEAM consultancy advice to Mountbatten House, Southampton, which has been shortlisted as a finalist at the BREEAM Awards 2024 within the ‘best refurbishment & Fit-Out project’ category. Previously a tired 1990’s office space, the Georgian building was stripped out and the internal space re-modelled to create a contemporary layout that focuses on collaboration and co-working. It was the …
Will More Onerous Overheating Standards Come To London?
Posted on July 2nd 2024
It is not unreasonable to expect that London may go further than the Building Regulations (Part O) when it comes to tackling overheating, mirroring its treatment of Part L targets. The recent GLA’s “Operation Helios”, a set of exercises designed to stress test London’s response to future extreme heat scenarios, shows that preparedness for extreme heat scenarios is increasingly becoming …
Gateway 2 Encourages ESCO Tendering at Planning Stage
Posted on July 2nd 2024
The building safety regulations mean that earlier tendering for ESCOs will be necessary to maximise the value they can bring to the delivery of a heat network. ESCOs can bring valuable operational information into the design process and often enable heat network designs to be optimised and made leaner. To avoid design change processes after the Gateway 2 submission, this …
Immediate Implications of July 2024 RICS Whole Life Carbon
Posted on July 2nd 2024
The updated RICS WLCA guidance comes into effect in July 2024 but will have limited planning impact until local authorities specify its use. The updated version has various assumptions and clarifications that could however be useful for a planning application. The update provides greater clarity and scope on assessing the carbon impact of the entire life cycle of a built …
Metering And Billing Of Ambient Loop Heat Networks
Posted on May 31st 2024
There is uncertainty in the market as to the metering requirements for ambient loop heat networks. Some manufacturers have stated that it is not a requirement to meter final customers connected to these systems. However, we would strongly recommend that all customers are metered for heat and cooling consumption delivered from ambient loops. Ambient loops circulate low grade heat around …
Exhaust Air Heat Pumps – Considerations Before Specifying
Posted on May 31st 2024
Projects planning on using Exhaust Air Heat Pumps (EAHPs) should carefully review a number of technical and commercial factors prior to specification. Rushing to specify these systems without due consideration can result in unforeseen consequences for end-users, such as poor user experience, high costs, and uncomfortable summer temperatures. EAHPs present an attractive solution for projects where a heat network is …
New Technical Standards for Heat Networks
Posted on May 31st 2024
The new technical standards code for heat networks is scheduled to be launched in 2025 and will impose new obligations on heat networks, but the standards have not been consulted upon yet. The Heat Networks Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS) consultation is expected be published in summer 2024 and will give heat network owners, developers, operators and customers the opportunity to …
Five Steps to Selecting The Best Technology For Your Projects
Posted on May 31st 2024
Developers are being faced with a range of emerging technologies and little guidance on which are best for their projects. Comparison is made difficult by a range of competing project variables and specifying the wrong technology could be detrimental to project performance. Here are five steps to ensuring that technology testing leads to the right results: Set the goal of …
Deconstruction over Demolition? – Questions You Should Consider
Posted on May 2nd 2024
Projects which pursue deconstruction activities over demolition need to carefully consider the practicalities of how materials and products can be reused. Not doing so can result in a failure to achieve targets, deliver on commitments made, or in extreme cases not obtain planning consent. If the built environment is to fully embrace the circular economy, deconstruction must become as prevalent …
Kidbrooke Village Phase 5 Building C – Planning Success
Posted on May 2nd 2024
Kidbrooke Village Phase 5 Building C has successfully secured planning approval for a material amendment under section 73 of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990. The development forms part of a wider Kidbrooke Village regeneration project carried out by Berkeley Homes East Thames (BHET) adding 341 dwellings (mixed-tenure) to the area. We have assisted BHET with attaining consent for …