Beyond the Code for Sustainable Homes+Upholding Quality and Sustainability

Andy von Bradsky

Chairman, PRP

• Quality and sustainability

• Housing Standards Review

• Implementation

• Continuing improvement

• Housing in the digital age

• Labelling

Pioneering performance - BedZed

A pathway to improvement

Code level 6 – Hanham Hall

Mainstreaming quality - Derwenthorpe

Housing Standards Review Background

Industry view – complex and confusing

The Untenable Forest

Legislative programme

• Ministerial Statement – published 25 March, statement of implementation and transitional arrangements

• Royal Assent – paved way for Deregulation Bill

• Deregulation Bill – set new “optional building regulations” power

• Approved Documents – set out new standards

• Impact Assessment (savings up to £114m per annum)

• Scope – Review is cross-tenure, applies only to England

The New Standards

• Energy – Baseline regulation (Part L) only. 2013 update. Zero carbon from 2016.

• Water – Baseline regulation (Part G). Potential higher standard (110lpd).

• Access – Baseline regulation (Part M). 2 additional areas (equivalent to LTH, and wheelchair housing).

• Security – Baseline regulation (Part Q). Single minimum level proposed in a new building regulation.

• Waste – Guidance on external waste storage (Part H)

• Space – ‘nationally described standard’ in Planning.

• No other technical standards - for performance or construction is able to be applied by LA’s

All change….out

gone

Planning standards safe

no other Technical standards

uncertain

gone

All change….in

+ ZERO CARBON WITH ALLOWABLE SOLUTIONS BY 2016

Application of new system

Transition arrangements

Processes for Local Authorities

• Partial Local Plan review and review of local information requirements

• Evidenced need and impact on viability tests

• Introduce space standard and optional regulations

• ‘Pass-porting’ existing standards

• Implications for Design Guides

London standards

• London Housing Standards

• Control over funding standards

• Cross tenure application

• Fall in line in London Plan revision in 2017?

• Arguing over energy and daylight

Accessibility - changes to current standards

Category 1

• as current AD M

Category 2 (new Lifetime Homes)

• step-free access• Minor changes to LTH

Category 3 (new wheelchair standard)

• distinction between ‘wheelchair accessible’ and ‘wheelchair adaptable’

• no covered parking space• number of lifts not specified• wider doors, larger lift shaft

Detail of space standard

• Gross Internal Areas

• Minimum of 1 double bedroom for 2+bed home

• Minimum bedroom areas and dimensions

• Internal storage requirements

• Allowance for fitted cupboards as storage space

• Ceiling heights

Proposed single tier standard

HSR GLA HQI

1b1p 37 37 30

1b2p 50 50 45

2b3p 61 61 57

2b4p 70 70 67

3b5p 86 86 75

4b6p 99 99 85

GLA HSR HQI

2b3p 74 70 57

2b4p 83 79 67

3b5p 96 93 82

3b6p 105 102 95

4b6p 109 108 95

4b7p 118 115 108

flats or other one storey

houses or other two storey

Code for Sustainable Homes and Energy

• Code winds down and applies to legacy projects only

• LA’s continue to set policy in Local Plans and apply higher standards of energy performance for now

• Government expected to set CfSH*4 and Zero Carbon definition from Oct 2016

• Revision to the Planning and Energy Act 2008 – Mar 15 – Oct 16

• LA’s constrained from setting higher standards thereafter

A positive step forward….

• Good progress

• Level playing field – tenure blind

• Certainty in the supply chain

• Enables innovation

• Impact on growth and scale

Delivering volume - large scale development

Delivering scale– high density living

Changing tenures - private rented sector

Responding to an Ageing Population

More standardisation

Issues for social housing

• No compulsion for space

• No HQI’s outside London

• Section 106 for RSL’s

• No national guidance for those wanting to go further than baseline energy

• Reliance on enhanced client briefs

Shortcomings of review

Space standard – a regulation not a planning standard??

Space standards – minimum living/kitchen/dining room dimensions and areas, more requirements for storage, wc provision, utility space

Water – single higher standard preferred and achievable

Lost in the review

Daylighting - New 'rules of thumb' required.

Overheating - Not addressed in Part L - an increasing issue due to super-insulation. Ventilation and shading.

Indoor Air quality - Not addressed in Part F. Take account of external air quality and paints/finishes.

Sound - Part E not affected but should acoustic standards be enhanced.

Materials - No green specification, evidence of sustainable practices.

Ecology - A planning matter and requires attention and guidance.

Space Labelling

Part L and Zero Carbon

Part L and Zero Carbon

The future for voluntary standards

Housing in the digital information age

• Smart phone apps

• Planning portals

• Visualisation

• BIM for design & management

• Customisation

• Home controls

• Monitoring running costs

BIM for Housing

Off site manufacture

A better informed customer

Consumer Labelling

• Price £

• Net floor area m2

• Price/m2 £/m2

• Storage area m2

• Broadband speed

• Estimated energy costs £/pa

• Estimated maintenance costs £/pa

• Comparators LHDG, BRE Daylight, DECC average costs.

Home Performance Labelling – Housing Forum

A consumer focus .….BRE

Home Quality Mark

A consumer focus .….Next Generation

More to do….

Viability - National guidance of viability and needs testing, transparent and fair.

Local Plans - More detail in Local Plans/SHMAA's, for housing need and accessibility requirements.

Higher performance – a fabric first higher energy performance standard

Labelling - Mandatory space labelling for all new homes to better inform consumers.

Further simplification - Simplify and re-format B Regs and separate Housing from other use classes.

Finally……

Beyond the Code for Sustainable Homes+Upholding Quality and Sustainability

Andy von Bradsky

Chairman, PRP