Category: Guidance

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Guidance Tool

Overheating in New Homes

A new tool and accompanying guidance which aims to help planners and design teams identify and mitigate overheating risks in new homes at an early stage.

The tool and guidance were formally launched at a sold-out evening event on 16th July 2019 at Winckworth Sherwood in London, which featured short talks from the project team and steering group experts.

The work has been led by a project team of Susie Diamond (Inkling), Julie Godefroy (Julie Godefroy Sustainability) and Nicola O’Connor (Mandarin Research) with support and feedback from an expert steering group, the GHA team and stakeholder workshops.

The steering group has consisted of the following experts:

  • Lynne Sullivan OBE, Chair, Good Homes Alliance
  • Michael Swainson, BRE
  • Anastasia Mylona, CIBSE
  • Joe Baker, London Borough of Haringey
  • Guy Thompson, The Concrete Centre
  • Dr Victoria Tink, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
  • Chris Twinn, Twinn Sustainability Innovation
  • Tom Dollard, Pollard Thomas Edwards

To assist with the use and uptake of the tool, the GHA and the research project team will develop and deliver a number of training masterclasses starting in autumn 2019. If you’re interested in attending a GHA Masterclass on overheating or arranging a bespoke CPD for your organisation, please contact Julian Brooks at julian@goodhomes.org.uk.

Author: Good Homes Alliance

Publication date: July 2019

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Guidance

Good Practice Guidance for Local Government

Who is this guide for?

This guide is designed for a wide range of officers working to implement adaptation within local government – whether that is a combined authority, district council, county council or unitary authority. This includes those responsible for adaptation planning, managing civil contingencies, and contributing to longer term planning, as well as those who want to make their services more resilient.

It is relevant both for organisations that are just starting out on adaptation planning, as well as for those who already work in adaptation, who are looking for new ways to move the agenda forward in their own area. It is also applicable to relevant stakeholders and partners who have a role in working alongside local authorities to progress adaptation in their local areas.

How to use this guide

This guide focuses on preparing for the impacts of climate change, a process known as climate change adaptation. It does not cover approaches to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, which are the drivers of climate change, often referred to as mitigation.

The guide is designed to assist local government with its work on climate change adaptation. You can use it to find out about the general business case for adapting to climate change, or why it matters in relation to key services and functions provided by local authorities. It also showcases techniques from around the country to provide inspiration for your own approaches.

How this guide was produced

The guide was developed by the LAAP with input from others including the Local Government Association, Core Cities, ADEPT, Defra and NHS England Sustainable Development Unit. It was then independently reviewed and developed by an adaptation specialist.

Author: ADEPT

Publication date: June 2019

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Guidance

You’ve declared a Climate Emergency… what next?

You’ve declared a Climate Emergency… what next? Don’t panic! There is a clear urgency to act, but steady, considered action is better than rushing into a piecemeal approach. Less haste, more speed!

This short guide by Arup is intended to help break down the challenge, based on their experiences of helping local authorities around the world to develop and deliver effective climate action plans.

Author: Arup

Publication date: June 2019

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Guidance

Circular economy guidance for construction clients

Together with its members, UKGBC has produced a circular economy guidance for construction clients, which provides comprehensive practical guidance to support construction clients who want to ask for circular principles in their project briefs for non-domestic built assets.

Author: UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)

Publication date: April 2019

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Further information: www.ukgbc.org

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Guidance Report

Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A Framework Definition

The report includes a framework for the UK construction and property industry to transition new and existing buildings to becoming net zero carbon by 2050, in line with the ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement. It provides an overarching framework of consistent principles and metrics that can be integrated into tools, policies and practices, and aims to build consensus in the industry on the approach to decarbonising buildings.

The new framework offers guidance for developers, owners and occupiers targeting net zero carbon buildings, setting out key principles to follow and outlining how such a claim should be measured and evidenced. Two approaches to net zero carbon are proposed by the framework which can be accurately measured today:

  • Net zero carbon – construction: The embodied emissions associated with products and construction should be measured, reduced and offset to achieve net zero carbon.
  • Net zero carbon – operational energy: The energy used by the building in operation should be reduced and where possible any demand met through renewable energy. Any remaining emissions from operational energy use should be offset to achieve net zero carbon.

With today’s report presented as a starting point, the next ten years will see the scope and ambition of the framework increased to encourage greater action. In the short-term, additional requirements will be introduced to challenge the industry, including minimum energy efficiency targets and limits on the use of offsets. In the longer term, the two approaches for construction and operational energy will be integrated into a broader approach for net zero whole life carbon, covering all of the emissions associated with the construction, operation, maintenance and demolition of a building.

Ashley Bateson, Partner at GHA member Hoare Lea said:

“We are proud to be a sponsor of the Advancing Net Zero programme. At Hoare Lea we feel it’s crucial that the property sector has an agreed framework for defining net zero carbon development. This gives industry a clear basis for reducing carbon emissions from the built environment towards zero in the near future. The environmental imperative for targeting ‘net zero’ is now loud and clear.”

Author: UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)

Publication date: April 2019

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Further information: www.ukgbc.org/ukgbc-work/advancing-net-zero/.

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Guidance

Circular Economy in Cities

As major engines for economic growth, cities can drive the circular economy agenda forward to unlock economic, environmental, and social benefits. Alongside Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate objectives, the transition to a circular economy will support city leaders as they deliver against their priorities, which include housing, mobility, and economic development.

The Circular Economy in Cities is a suite of resources for urban policymakers and change-makers.

Circular Economy in Cities focuses on opportunities in three key urban systems – buildings, mobility, and products – and looks at how city governments can work to enable a circular economy transition. The project addresses questions such as:

  • Vision: What will the implementation of circular economy principles in cities look like?
  • Factsheets: What benefits can a circular economy transition in key urban systems bring to cities?
  • Policy levers: What can urban policymakers do to accelerate this transition?
  • Case studies: What examples are there of urban policymakers already putting this into action?
  • Other networks & resources: What are other organisations doing on the topic of circular economy and cities?

Author: Ellen Macarthur Foundation

Publication date: March 2019

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Guidance

Thinking Ahead

Local authority estates have been a vital part of the UK’s housing provision for over 50 years, and although many face social, economic, placemaking and physical stock issues, the advantages of estate regeneration are plentiful. More recently, policy and funding initiatives have created a fresh impetus for renewing the nation’s estates – putting it firmly on the political, as well as the housing, agenda.

In collaboration with GVA, Levitt Bernstein have produced this best practice guide to help Local Authorities and Housing Associations through the three key stages of the estate regeneration process: preparation, strategy and delivery. Taking each in turn, this guide sets out the questions that need to be answered in order to design and deliver successful renewal projects.

Author: Levitt Bernstein, GVA

Publication date: February 2019

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Guidance

The Policy Playbook: Driving sustainability in new homes – a resource for local authorities

Good Homes Alliance contributed to and endorsed this resource developed by UKGBC, in association with Core Cities UK, that is designed to help enable local authorities (LAs) drive up the sustainability of new homes.

The ‘Policy Playbook’ focuses on energy & carbon, mitigating overheating risk, and the cross-cutting issue of assuring performance. There is also a section on viability and a set of case studies.

Author: UKGBC

Publication date: February 2019 (Version 1.3). Originally published March 2018 (Version 1.0)

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Guidance Report

London Environment Strategy

The Mayor of London is taking a range of actions to improve the environment now, setting London on the path to create a better future.

The state of London’s environment affects everyone who lives in and visits the city – it helps Londoners to stay healthy, makes London a good place to work and keeps the city functioning from day to day.

In many ways London’s environment is improving, but it still faces a host of challenges. Toxic air, noise pollution, threats to our green spaces, and the adverse effects of climate change – they all pose major risks to the health and wellbeing of Londoners.

We need to act now to tackle the most urgent environmental challenges facing our city, as well as safeguard London’s environment over the longer term. We need to ensure that London is greener, cleaner and ready for the future.

This is the first strategy to bring together approaches to every aspect of London’s environment, integrating the following areas:

  • air quality
  • green infrastructure
  • climate change mitigation and energy
  • waste
  • adapting to climate change
  • ambient noise
  • low carbon circular economy

Author: Mayor of London

Publication date: May 2018

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Further information: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/london-environment-strategy

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Guidance

Building for Life 12

The Building for Life 12 (BfL12) guidelines were published in a booklet in September 2012. BfL12 is the third version of the guide for developers and local authorities and responds to and ensures it is best suited to the needs of the reformed planning system under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Localism Act.

BfL12 is designed to help local communities become more involved in design conversations and in shaping development proposals. Its 12 questions provide a structure for discussions between local communities, the local planning authority, the developer and other stakeholders, to ensure that the design of new homes and their neighbourhood are as attractive, functional and sustainable as possible.

Its development is the result of a unique collaboration between house builders, local authorities, planners, architects and academics. It enables stakeholders involved in housing to consider all the elements of what makes “a good place to live” at the design stage.

Author: Design Council, CABE, Home Builders Federation, Design for Homes

Publication date: 2018

Further information: www.builtforlifehomes.org

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