Technical newsletters about emerging issues & our latest research

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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