News archive for November, 2019
Increase in BREEAM Fees
Posted on November 27th 2019
The BRE have announced an increase in BREEAM fees for all projects registered on or after Sunday 1st December 2019. This will affect all aspects of the BREEAM process including registration, certification and fast track certification, as set out below. BREEAM Communities: assessment registration fees have increased by 13% to £565. Certification fees are increasing by 13.2% to 13.4% based on …
Health Impact Assessments for Planning
Posted on November 21st 2019
Many planning policies now require a report showing that the Health Impact of a scheme has been considered. A Health Impact Assessment details the capacity of doctor surgeries and dentists and examines daylight, sunlight and overheating within homes. It also looks at outdoor space and play areas and reviews the provision of public transport (cycling and safe pedestrian routes). Our …
Delivering an ESCO on a small development with low heat bills
Posted on November 21st 2019
We recently worked with Principal Place Residential Development Ltd (a JV between Brookfield Properties & Concord Pacific) to undertake an ESCO tendering process for the eponymous development in Hackney which provides heating to 357 flats, 299 of which also have cooling. Following our work, ENGIE have now been appointed as the ESCO. It is often assumed that ESCOs are only …
Overheating with window restrictors
Posted on November 21st 2019
Window restrictors are devices that stop windows being opened more than 100mm. They are important to maintain the security and safety of homes. For rooms that are liable to solar gain overheating the option of opening the window to enable purge ventilation is very limited when restrictors are used. Removing the restrictors can pose risks for occupants, while large glazed …
The Future Homes Standard: The end of the road for CHP?
Posted on November 21st 2019
Under Government proposals for the Future Homes Standard supplying heat to new dwellings from gas combined heat and power (CHP) would be a thing of the past. Changes to the way buildings are assessed for the future Part L would mean that heat networks with most of their heat derived from CHP will fail to comply with the new standards. …