UK sustainable development strategy - March 2005

1. Sustainable Design and Construction DriversKate MillsSenior Sustainability Consultant, BREmillsk@bre.co.uk

2. UK sustainable development strategy - March 2005 Principles: • Sustainable consumption and production • Climate Change and Energy • Protection of Natural Resources & Environment enhancement • Creating sustainable communities • Regionally developed And three key themes: • Involving people • Government leading by example • Getting serious about delivery

3. Legislation • “Duty to prepare “community strategies”, for promoting or improving the economic, social and environmental well being of their areas, and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK” – Local Govnt in Scotland Bill (2003) • “Any person or body creating a Regional Spatial Strategy or a Local Development Plan must exercise the function with the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development” – Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

4. The drivers • Scottish Executive Guidance “Choosing Our Future: Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy” - 12: Making the Links: Built Environment • Scottish Executive Construction Procurement Manual - Sustainable Development section of website - Applies if audited by Auditor General for Scotland • Sustainable Development Policy Into Practice: New Buildings – Scottish Executive April 2006

5. The drivers • Communities Scotland – Sustainable Housing Design Guide and Housing Quality Assessment Programme • SPP 1 – inclusion in development plans of measure to promote sustainable development • SPP 3 – energy efficiency and use of resources • PAN 72 – local materials • PAN 67 – sustainability of housing developments • PAN 63 – provision of space of recycling

6. The drivers • SUDS requirements under Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 • Architecture and Design Scotland (www.ads.org.uk) • BREEAM for Schools • NEAT for NHS • BREEAM for offices, industrial units, retail

7. The drivers • SE support Considerate Constructors Scheme • Guidance from the Architecture Policy unit www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Arts-Culture/arch/initiatives • SUST and RIAS Sustainable Design Accreditation Scheme

8. The drivers • Tougher building regulations – consultation March 06 • Raise levels of energy performance, incentivise the use of low and zero carbon technologies, inc micro-renewables and promote low energy lighting in new home • Energy Performance Directive of Buildings Directive • Ability to dry washing indoors - building regs

9. Other Legislation and Policy Drivers • Energy White Paper – 60% CO2 reduction by 2050 • Better Building Summit – Code for Sustainable Building (CSB) • OGC’s - Achieving Excellence in Construction Suite

10. Other drivers • Strategic Environmental Assessment for public sector strategies, plans and programmes • Environmental Impact Assessment • Stakeholder pressure and accountability • Environmental policies, statements and EMS • Competition between developers?

11. Future drivers • Future revision of Scotland’s Climate Change Programme • Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan (end 06) • PAN 45 – planning issues for micro renewables • SE consultation on site waste management plans and recycled content targets • SBSA, Planning Group and Architecture Policy Unit publications on use of natural building materials

12. Code for Sustainable Buildings • “National” Code for Sustainable Buildings • Government and the building industry to adopt a single Code for Sustainable Building………….and that this be based on BREEAM / EcoHomes

13. The Code - What is it? • Single Code for Sustainable Homes, with clear minimum standards for key resource efficiency (energy, water, waste and use of materials). • Plus optional Liveability elements, (Lifetime Homes, Security, Soundproofing, Private External space, Daylighting, Home User Guide). • Five performance levels from basic “one star” up to carbon neutral “five star” • Scoring minimum of 30, up to a level of 100 • Must do criteria augmented by optional “tradeable” elements • Manifesto Commitment - from April 2006 all new homes receiving central funding will meet the new CSB. • No plans for “Non-Domestic CSB”….and… • Only in England!

14. Response to the Code - What’s happening here? Building (Scotland) Act 2003 led the UK by introducing powers to make building regulations to further the “achievement of sustainable development” March 06 - public consultation on extending certain Standards, due into force in May 2007 March 06 - SBSA report “Sustainable development policy into practice: new buildings” • Existing and proposed measures to promote the sustainable development of new buildings • Regulatory standards and guidance • Conditions of public funding and guidance Contact:- Dr Linda Sheridan Scottish Building Standards Agency

15. First survey of 13 of UK’s largest listed house-builders More than 50% of them lag behind best practice The leading companies demonstrated that sustainability can be integrated into mainstream business practices Public disclosure on sustainability is lacking. Industry benchmarking WWF in conjunction with Insight Investment January 2004

16. Why - UK Propertyindustry overview • 8 % UK GDP • 1.5 m people employed • 170,000 Companies • 90 m tonnes of waste • CO2 emissions related to construction- 60% • Aggregate consumption - 260 m tonnes / yr • Timber consumption - 60% of UK total • Buildings responsible for > 50% of UK CO2

17. UK Energy Use by Buildings Housing 63% Source BRE

18. Why? • Policy into practice • Remit • Knowledge and training • Policy, systems and processes • At the start • Time and budget • Setting the brief • Getting the right integrated team • Informed clients

19. Why? • Conservative constructors • Contracts for engineers • Speculative development • Quantitative benchmarks and targets • Monitoring • Accountability

20. Kate Millsmillsk@bre.co.uk www.bre.co.uk