London Continues to Lead on Energy and Environmental Planning
Posted on June 20th 2017
Energy and environmental planning in London continues to challenge housing developers, whilst the drive for build quality and safety heightens. Hodkinson Consultancy remains as a leader in optimised energy strategy design, balancing the demanding planning requirements of CO2, Overheating and Daylighting. Incorporating Solar Design and Façade Optimisation into early design stages is essential in order to meet these demanding requirements. …
Improving Build Quality and Customer Satisfaction through Building Performance Evaluation
Posted on June 20th 2017
Successful companies are on a journey to raise quality and improve customer satisfaction. Building Performance Evaluation (also known as Post Occupancy Evaluation) is an important tool to support those improvements and demonstrate high quality, sustainable housing. We undertake quantifiable occupant surveys to gain valuable customer feedback on the performance of homes. Through our partnership with the Building Use Studies (BUS) …
Integrated Approach Assists Planning Success at Woodgrange
Posted on June 20th 2017
We are delighted to have supported London Iron Works Ltd achieve resolution to grant for the redevelopment of the Woodgrange Road site, located in the London Borough of Newham. A large mixed development site, the scheme comprises of 74 residential units and 1,233m2 of retail space. We worked closely with the client and design team to provide an integrated energy, …
Updates to BREEAM Fees
Posted on June 14th 2017
The BRE are increasing the BREEAM registration and certification fees, as of 1st July. If your projects are registered before 30th June the current charges will apply. For UK New Construction, the following registration and certification fees will apply after 1st July: Further changes are: BREEAM UK Refurbishment and Fit Out registration fees are increasing from £195 to £250. Home …
Solar Design and Optimisation at Early Design Stages
Posted on May 4th 2017
Incorporating Solar Design and Optimisation into early design stages is essential in order to meet demanding planning requirements for CO2, Overheating and Daylighting. The adoption of an iterative design workflow in close collaboration with the architectural team leads to realistic, cost-effective and integrated project strategies. Undertaking Solar Design and Optimisation analysis during early design stages provides clients and design teams …
Early Input Provides Cost Effective Acoustic Design
Posted on May 4th 2017
Meeting good acoustic standards has traditionally relied on the building envelope. The new Professional Planning Guidance ProPG: Planning and Noise, due for publication in June, will seek to promote other means of minimising noise impacts. Local authorities are widely expected to support the new guidance. The guidance requires that the use of site layout, orientation and spatial design are considered …
BREEAM Accredited Professionals and Other Services
Posted on May 4th 2017
We offer tailor made services to help secure BREEAM credits. These services are a great way to help design teams secure the required BREEAM rating. They play an important role in improving the overall build quality and improving the internal environment for occupants. We have been accredited BREEAM assessors since 2006 and have completed nearly 200 certifications. Our BREEAM Accredited …
Company News: Promotions and Employee Ownership
Posted on May 4th 2017
We are very pleased to announce that Elena Pana, Olga Tsagkalidou and Simon Gowing have all recently been promoted to Senior Specialist. Congratulations to them as they continue to develop their careers with us. Their increased depth of knowledge and experience are vital to our continued growth and development of the business. All of our team are exposed to a range …
Changes to BREEAM and HQM Assessment Fees
Posted on April 28th 2017
The BRE typically update their scheme fees every two or three years and the last fee change for many of the schemes was back in July 2014. Scheme fees are changing in the following versions: Notably the biggest changes are as follows: Registration fees are increasing from £195 to £250 for New Construction and Refurb and Fit Out assessments HQM …
Thermal Bridging Analysis Gives Cost Savings
Posted on April 6th 2017
Results from our recent Façade Optimisation work indicate that Thermal Bridging Analysis represents the most cost effective alternative to expensive fabric uplift measures and/or renewable energy generation systems. Thermal Bridging Analysis is appropriate for all high rise construction projects and ensures that detailed structural elements which frequently penetrate the insulation envelope of a building are correctly specified. As a result …