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Report

The Green Shift

As part of our Build Net Zero Now campaign Finance working group we have launched a report – “The Green Shift – The existing financial incentives for higher environmental performance of new homes”, authored by Rafe Bertram.

The document is an exploration to see if a ‘tipping point’ has been reached, one where existing financial incentives provide high levels of environmental sustainability in a way that are financially advantageous for all stakeholders, and if this route is now the most financially viable option.

As part of phase 3 of our Build Net Zero Now campaign, we will be looking into opportunities for a yearly revision of this document. If you have any feedback, comments, or additions, please let us know via:

DOWNLOAD THE GREEN SHIFT

With thanks to our Finance working group participants for supporting this work:

Neil Murphy, TOWN (WG chair); Rafe Bertram, Enfield Council; Chris Brigstocke, Winckworth Sherwood; Nicholas Fishlock, Brighton & Hove Council; Mark Ogden, Triodos; Emyr Poole, Homes England; Ian Rigarlsford, Ecology Building Society; David Smith, South East Consortium; Annabel Harsmworth, M&G; James Sheldon, Bioregional; Michael Fowell, NW Leicestershire District Council; Debbie McLatch, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council; Gilbert Lennox-King, Construction Carbon; Julian Brooks, Richard Broad, Larry Tate, Good Homes Alliance.

About Build Net Zero Now

The Good Homes Alliance Build Net Zero Now campaign aims to empower progressive Local Authorities, Housing Associations and housebuilders, and their supply chains, by providing them with the knowledge and tools to deliver net zero housing.

Following a year-long series of topical events and targeted outputs, including new and freely available net zero case studies and design briefs, phase one of the campaign concluded at the GHA Build Net Zero Now Conference in October 2021. 

A series of working groups and targeted outputs concluded phase two of the campaign in Autumn 2023, with phase three of the campaign continuing into 2024. 

The campaign outputs have proved vital for the 30+ members of our fast-growing LA Vanguard and HA Pathfinder networks from across the UK, who collectively represent 350,000 existing homes and 120,000 new build homes to be developed in the next 10 years.

Lead campaign sponsors:

Theme sponsor:

Categories
Paper Report

Domestic Energy Solutions Primer – Energy and heat generation

As part of our Build Net Zero Now campaign Energy working group we are pleased to launch a new introductory guide on domestic energy solutions. We would like to thank lead author Andrew Jeffryes, and Chris Brierley from Active Building Centre/Energy Systems Catapult for supporting this work.

The ‘primer’ covers energy generation, transformation and distribution, and is the first part in a series of guides on energy solutions, with further guides planned on energy storage and ‘smart grids’. The guide builds upon our 3-part ‘Energy Solutions for Net Zero Housing Development’ series co-hosted with The Green Register this June-July 2023, which featured speakers from Herschel, Allume Energy, Joju Solar, SNRG and CEPRO.

As part of phase 3 of our BNZN campaign we will build upon the expert content presented in our guide and event series, and will continue to showcase, and interrogate the viability and performance of, emerging energy solutions through in-person site visits, demonstrations, dissemination of research findings, and case studies. If you are interested in supporting the campaign, please get in touch.

This guide is part one of a series, with a part 2 on energy storage available later in the Autumn and a further guide planned on smart grids.

With thanks to our Energy working group participants for supporting this work:

Active Building Centre, Basingstoke Council, BCP Council, Bioregional, CEPRO, Greencore Construction, Oxford City Council, PureHaus, Sero, SNRG, South West Net Zero Hub, Southampton Council, Traxis, Vertigo (Mike Roberts, WG chair) and Verto Homes.

DOWNLOAD THE DOMESTIC ENERGY SOLUTIONS PRIMER

About Build Net Zero Now

The Good Homes Alliance Build Net Zero Now campaign aims to empower progressive Local Authorities, Housing Associations and housebuilders, and their supply chains, by providing them with the knowledge and tools to deliver net zero housing.

Following a year-long series of topical events and targeted outputs, including new and freely available net zero case studies and design briefs, phase one of the campaign concluded at the GHA Build Net Zero Now Conference in October 2021. 

A series of working groups and targeted outputs concludes phase two of the campaign in Autumn 2023, with phase three of the campaign continuing into 2024. 

The campaign outputs have proved vital for the 30+ members of our fast-growing LA Vanguard and HA Pathfinder networks from across the UK, who collectively represent 350,000 existing homes and 120,000 new build homes to be developed in the next 10 years.

Lead campaign sponsors:

Theme sponsor:

Categories
Report

BNES Local Plan Partial Update

Council adopts ground-breaking planning framework

Good Homes Alliance welcomes the announcement that Bath and North East Somerset has become the first council in England to successfully adopt an energy-based net zero housing policy as part of its commitment to tackling the climate emergency.

The new housing development policy will ensure the energy use of any proposed development is measured and meets a specified target — setting a limit on the total energy use and demand for space heating. It will also require sufficient on-site renewable energy generation to match the total energy consumption of the buildings — ensuring the development is 100% self-sufficient.

New policies will also address building emissions such as a policy to limit carbon emissions resulting from the materials used in the construction of large-scale developments. These ‘upfront’ embodied carbon emissions will be limited to 900kgCO2e/m2.

The council will also impose net zero operational carbon standards for new major non-residential development.

The ground-breaking move follows the approval at a special meeting of Council yesterday (January 19) where The Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU), which updates parts of the current Local Plan to better address council priorities including the climate and ecological emergencies, was adopted.

The Local Plan sets out the basis for decision making on development and the use of land that requires planning permission across B&NES. The adopted LPPU includes some changes, known as main modifications, that were suggested by an independent planning inspector to ensure the Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU) would be sound and legally compliant. They were consulted on last year.

The LPPU includes specific policies that will secure net zero development, help facilitate the delivery of renewable energy installations of an appropriate scale in the most suitable locations and further encourage the shift towards more sustainable forms of transport.

It will also help to replenish housing supply, enabling the council to meet its housing requirement in a planned way and have greater control over speculative planning applications. In addition, the LPPU will help the council to better manage off-campus, purpose-built student accommodation schemes where they meet a demonstrable need.

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Planning and Licensing, said: “Adoption of the Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU) ensures our policies are aligned with the latest national policy and put us at the forefront nationally with policies related to the climate and ecological emergencies. Bath & North East Somerset Council is the first Local Planning Authority (LPA) in England to have an adopted Local Plan policy requiring a net zero energy balance for new housing and we are the first in the West of England to adopt a biodiversity net gain (BNG) policy.”

The new Biodiversity Net Gain policy requires major developments to demonstrate a Biodiversity Net Gain of a minimum of 10% which is secured in perpetuity, for at least 30 years. Minor developments will only be permitted where no net loss and appropriate net gain of biodiversity is secured.

The council liaised with Cornwall Council and used their evidence base to support the new net zero construction policy. Their similar policy has been found sound by an inspector and will be considered for adoption in February. Similar policies are being progressed by Central Lincolnshire and GHA Leader member Greater Cambridge Shared Planning.

The recent adoption of the Sustainable Construction Checklist SPD provides the reporting framework to demonstrate compliance with the new sustainable construction policies and the council’s partnership with the University of Bath will help to evaluate implementation and industry response.

The policy is the first new housing policy to be net-zero aligned based on 2030 trajectories of industry-leading organisations such as the London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

More information on the LPPU can be found on the council website.

Click here to download key documents

To find out more about the Good Homes Alliance’s local authority Vanguard Network, click here.

Categories
Report

Cornwall Council – Climate Emergency Development Plan Document (DPD)

Cornwall Council submitted the Climate Emergency DPD for independent examination in November 2021. This was required under (Town and Country Planning) (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012).

Planning Inspector: P Griffiths BSc (Hons) BArch IHBC acted on behalf of the Secretary of State. He has now completed his examination and has made his report. His report confirms that the plan is sound subject to his recommended modifications. You can view or download a copy of the CEDPD Inspectors Report. and the Schedule of Main Modifications.

The plan can now proceed to adoption. A report will be made to Cabinet on 8 February and Cornwall Council for adoption on 21 February 2023. When adopted the new policies will support planning decisions.

You can view or download a copy of the Climate Emergency DPD showing the required modifications. This includes minor editorial changes to support the modifications. 

The following document will be updated to reflect the Inspectors findings before adoption: 

Following examination the Council has issued a Schedule of Modifications.

If you would like to discuss this document you can contact the team by emailing: climateemergencydpd@cornwall.gov.uk

by writing to: 
Climate Emergency DPD Team
Cornwall Council
New County Hall
Treyew Road,
Truro 
TR1 3AY

About the Climate Emergency DPD

Cornwall declared a climate emergency in 2019. Recognising that all services across the Council would have a part to play. New planning policies are a step towards improving Cornwall’s housing and infrastructure. Helping to plan for a Cornwall that our children and grandchildren can live, work and thrive in.

These Planning Policies impact the way that places grow and change. They will help to protect and shape the future of Cornwall. They add detail to the Cornwall Local Plan (2016). They aim to help address climate change, by expanding on and replacing some Local Plan policies. The aim is to address the impacts of climate change, sitting alongside Government legislation.

These policies make development more sustainable and are flexible to keep up with changes in technology.

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Categories
Report

The Value of Solar Property

This report, by Solar Energy UK, highlights the financial benefits of installing a solar energy system, which for a typical home could increase its sales price by at least £1,800, and reduce annual energy bills by more than £300. Overall, the impact of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is clear.

  • Solar power systems: 5 Increase the sale price of a home.
  • Help futureproof homes, by ensuring a source of clean, cheap energy for new low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps.
  • Reduce bills, by producing power to supply some of a home’s energy demand.
  • Enable surplus power to be sold back to the grid.
  • Reduce carbon emissions and improve the environmental performance of a home.

Download the report

The principal funding for this report was provided by the MCS Charitable Foundation. Additional funding was provided by the Forster Group, Huawei, Larkfleet Smart Homes, and Viridian Solar.

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Report

Committee Report – 21/03619/REM – Castle (Land Between Huntingdon Road and Histon Road, Cambridge)

Download content available for Good Homes Alliance Vanguard Network members only.

If you are already a GHA member, please Log In or Sign Up for an account. Check our Member Directory to see if you are a member.

Find out the benefits of membership and sign up as a GHA member to access this content.

If you have any queries, please contact richard@goodhomes.org.uk.

Categories
Report Research findings

Welsh Zero Carbon Housing Performance Hub

The findings of a report that explored the potential of establishing a Zero Carbon Housing Performance Hub for Wales have been published.

This report is the conclusion of a three-month scoping study which brought together the Good Homes Alliance (GHA), Woodknowledge Wales and the Building Performance Network (BPN) to prepare a proposal for what the Hub’s core purpose could be, how it could add value to the housing sector in Wales, and how it could further the Welsh Government’s objectives.

The report includes a foreword from Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change for the Welsh Government:

 “This Zero Carbon Housing Performance Hub scoping study shows that there is strong support from the housing sector for a government endorsed body where industry, academia and NGOs can collaborate to share research, debate the issues and help shape future policy. The Hub could therefore become a resource for all similar initiatives to ensure a cohesive and coherent direction.

The Hub will also play its part in enabling a zero-carbon economic recovery that is purposefully aligned with the supply chain in Wales. Importantly for Wales, the Hub will enable the social housing sector to go zero early, bringing the benefits of low energy bills and healthy home environments to those that need them most. In short, the Hub will help facilitate and accelerate zero carbon high performance solutions that can be rolled-out at scale across all the housing sectors in Wales. We were delighted to be able to fund this scoping study and will give consideration to how we can support its implementation.”


Authors: Good Homes Alliance, Woodknowledge Wales and Building Performance Network.

Report prepared for ClwydAlyn with funding from the Welsh Government Collaborative Research and Innovation Support Programme (CRISP).

Study completed in March 2021 and conducted by Nicola O’Connor (Mandarin Research) and Ross Holleron (Building Performance Network) for the Good Homes Alliance in collaboration with Woodknowledge Wales and the Sustainable Development Foundation.

Publication date: August 2021


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Report

The future of SAP calculations

Making SAP fit for a Net Zero future

The team including CIBSE, Elementa, Levitt Bernstein, WSP, UCL, Clarion Housing Group and Etude has published a report on the future of SAP. The work makes recommendations on improving SAP and RdSAP so they are fit for Net Zero. The report was commissioned by The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

What is SAP and why does it need improving?

SAP is the calculation methodology used to estimate and regulate the energy and carbon performance of new homes and the existing housing stock across the United Kingdom, from small works to large new developments. It is a central tool for those developing, implementing and tracking policies on energy, fuel poverty and carbon emissions and is being used by the whole building industry. SAP outputs are also used to inform residents. Its importance cannot be overstated.

The team has worked over the last year on a report that summarises the issues that should be addressed in the next version of SAP to make it the best possible methodology by 2023-2024. These include current trends affecting housing, the energy system, technologies and innovations such as performance testing and verification.

The 25 recommendations are split into five areas.

1. Better align SAP/RdSAP and its strategic objectives
2. Improvements to the methodology
3. Improvements to SAP/RdSAP and its ecosystem for Net Zero
4. For a better evaluation of energy use
5. Support to decarbonisation of heat and electricity

Download the future of SAP report

Download the full Making SAP fit for Net Zero report

Download the future of SAP summary report

Categories
Report

Home Comforts during the Covid-19 Lockdown

The report summarises findings of a national survey of 2,500 households (representing 7,200 people) aimed at understanding how well or how poorly the design of our homes and their immediate neighbourhoods supported us during the period of coronavirus lockdown.

The intention was to understand what can be learned from this period of unprecedented stress on our home environments. The findings offer insights into how we should be designing or adapting them in the future in order that they are more resilient and better able to support happy and healthy lifestyles.

Findings are grouped according to the following themes:

1. About you during lockdown

2. Your home during lockdown

3. Your neighbourhood during lockdown

4. Your community during lockdown


Author: Place Alliance (Matthew Carmona, Valentina Giordano, Garima Nayyar, Jessica Kurland, Clare Buddle)

Publication date: October 2020

Further information: placealliance.org.uk

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Categories
Report

Building the Case for Net Zero

This report published by the UKGBC highlights the real-world implications for achieving net zero buildings. The aim of the findings is improve the collective understanding for the buildings sector and to help build a case for new net zero buildings.


Author: UKGBC

Publication date: September 2020

Further information: https://www.ukgbc.org/ukgbc-work/building-the-case-for-net-zero/

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