Works Completed at Brandon House for Crest Nicholson
Posted on May 22nd 2018
We have just seen the completion of Brandon House, an exceptionally designed residence in the London Borough of Southwark which was built by Crest Nicholson. The site consists of 97 dwellings including 9 townhouses and over 3,000m2 in office and retail space. We worked closely with the design and construction team to advise on the most effective way to comply …
Selecting HIUs for improved efficiency of District Heating Networks
Posted on March 15th 2018
Overestimating peak dwelling heat loads and therefore the dwelling heat interface unit output, combined with poor commissioning will lead to an overpriced and inefficient network. This will be reflected in high heating bills for consumers, high ongoing maintenance costs, and higher heat losses in communal areas. The dwelling heat interface unit (HIU) is one of the key components of a …
Draft NPPF aims to promote sustainable design with higher density development
Posted on March 15th 2018
The draft National Planning Policy Framework was published for consultation this month (March 2018). Key elements of the revised framework are listed below where relevant to our work. We will be interpreting these requirements in the new few months and contributing to the Government’s consultation: Flexibility with daylight standards – the updated document states that local plans should optimise the …
More specialists join the Hodkinson team
Posted on March 14th 2018
We are delighted to welcome two new people to our team, Norbert Szekely and Vicky Kontopoulou. Norbert joins our District Energy team as a Senior Specialist with experience gained at a district heating product manufacturer. This strengthens our district energy capabilities in response to the growing demand for strategic energy solutions particularly on major regeneration projects particularly in the London …
Our Work on High Speed 2
Posted on March 14th 2018
Costain Skanska Joint Venture (CSJV) have appointed Hodkinson Consultancy as the High Speed 2 (HS2) BREEAM Infrastructure Assessor and Sustainability Champion for the Enabling Works Package for Phase One, Area South (Parts 1 and 2). This is the area of the project that runs from London Euston to Ickenham. As well as CSJV, we are working closely with Schofield Lothian to deliver …
Achieving the 10% Draft London Plan Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential Buildings
Posted on February 14th 2018
The recently published Draft London Plan (December 2017) sets new, ambitious targets for the fabric energy efficiency of buildings. Following Grenfell, concerns surrounding the fire risk of PIR and phenolic insulation are making reductions in external wall U-values increasingly difficult in tall buildings, leaving the question of how these reductions in energy use will be achieved? Policy SI2 of the …
Acoustic Design for High Quality Housing
Posted on February 14th 2018
An increasing demand for housing is leading to the continuous development of urban areas and infill of brownfield sites. As a result, the impact of environmental noise is becoming an increasingly important consideration for developers when designing high quality new buildings. External noise affects health and quality of life, as well as impacting on the availability of natural ventilation through …
Tips to Help Pass an Air Tightness Test First Time
Posted on February 14th 2018
An Air Tightness Test (which is also known as air leakage test, air pressure test or air permeability test) is a government regulated test to ensure buildings do not leak or retain too much air. Before an air test is carried out, we need to make sure the building is complete and is clear of all trades in order to …
BREEAM UK New Construction 2014 – Closure of Registrations
Posted on February 14th 2018
The final preparations are being made to the BREEAM 2018 manual and it is due to launch on the 7th March 2018. Registrations for the current 2014 New Construction scheme will be permitted until the 23rd March 2018. Following this date registrations will have to be made under the 2018 New Construction scheme. After the closing date it may still …
A Part L Zero Carbon home performance or a Passivhaus?
Posted on January 18th 2018
The energy performance of buildings is assessed through Part L of the Building Regulations. All buildings must meet these standards as well as targets formed through planning policy. The Passivhaus Standard is a voluntary certification that demonstrates a high level of energy performance. However, Passivhaus homes still need to demonstrate compliance with Part L and their performance therefore needs to …