Question 10
Yes, in order to set the bar high and ensure future growth in Bedford is exemplar.
Building regulations do not necessarily take into account sustainability and climate change considerations. Local evidence demonstrates that there is a need to consider these factors for the health and well-being of the local residents but also for society as a whole. Due to profit maximisation, developers may not prioritise sustainability considerations unless required to do by local authorities. For example, the development management process could include requirements to submit interim and final BREEAM certifications to the local planning authority in order to discharge conditions, sustainability statements as part of the design process, submissions of energy strategy demonstrating energy and carbon savings, submission of water efficiency and so on. Sustainability considerations are now in-built for prime development sites in London developments because it is expected in these types of developments and developers can price accordingly. The challenge is embedding sustainability considerations for all future developments, residential, commercial and industrial, not just prime development sites.
The Biddenham Society recommend that any building within an existing village (eg filling brown-field sites in preference to using green space) reflects the buildings in the surrounding and local area in terms of styles, architectures and materials and that this should be reflected and controlled through the correctly-developed and subsequently enforced policies.
No comment.
Without any detailed information on the Government’s plans or it’s new Future Homes Standard, it’s very difficult to judge whether local standards should differ from these. Impossible question! In general terms, every opportunity should be taken to improve the energy efficiency of new homes, schools, offices and other buildings because life will not be sustainable in the future without major reductions in the use of fossil fuels.
The space standards in new houses are inadequate and there is never enough storage space. All the sites outside the town have been over-developed with densities that leave residents with little or no gardens - no space to sit out or for children to play or to allow you to grow your own vegetables.
Need to reduce proximity of housing to sources of air pollution (traffic)
1. Water consumption Bedford Borough lies in an “area of serious water stress” as defined by the Environment Agency – there is a need for BBC to ensure that all housing and office/industrial development conforms to the highest level of water conservation. 2. SUDS Infrastructure – long term maintenance BBC should ensure that sufficient funds have been obtained from developers to ensure that the long term maintenance of SUDS infrastructure is assured.
We feel that electric charging points and solar panels should be included as standard. There should be more cycle lanes. Ensure office developments over a certain size have showers available so people can cycle to work. Improve broadband and office space in homes so people can work from home. Houses should be well insulated and developments should maintain the character of the area.
Can improvements be made to older character properties without destroying their character
Housing density and provision of minimum garden sizes should be stipulated.
No
Pending changes to Building Regulations (as set in the Future Homes Standard Consultation -2019) will significantly improve the energy efficiency requirements of new homes from 2020 (via an interim standard) and 2025 (via a full standard). Reflecting these pending changes, which represent a significant step towards net zero homes, it is considered unnecessary and unviable for the Local Plan Review to go beyond national standards.
See response to Question 9.
Will the new standards ensure better houses or worse. Greater density of building or less. Bigger rooms or smaller. Less natural light or more. etc
The Wixams is hardly pleasant to the eye. All new housing has no character and look like nothing more than concrete jungles. Over development, profits and brown envelops are all that matter
only that building regulations and permissions should continue
Without knowing what the new standards are going to be it's hard to say, but current standards should be a minimum
Building regulations do not necessarily take into account sustainability and climate change considerations. Local evidence demonstrates that there is a need to consider these factors for the health and well-being of the local residents but also for society as a whole. Due to profit maximisation, developers may not prioritise sustainability considerations unless required to do by local authorities. For example, the development management process could include requirements to submit interim and final BREEAM certifications to the local planning authority in order to discharge conditions, sustainability statements as part of the design process, submissions of energy strategy demonstrating energy and carbon savings, submission of water efficiency and so on. Sustainability considerations are now in-built for prime development sites in London developments because it is expected in these types of developments and developers can price accordingly. The challenge is embedding sustainability considerations for all future developments, residential, commercial and industrial, not just prime development sites.
See response to Question 9.
The East of England suffers low rainfall, so standards which conserve and reuse water efficiently should be considered.
As we do not know what those new standards will be I cannot be specific. I would wish the Council to ensure that there is maximum sustainability in all new house building schemes specifically (a) to use solar panels on roofs and to look at developments where the energy generated could be shared if not used by one specific household; (b) ensure that the electricity sources needed to sustain electric boilers are in place after the gas boilers cease to be installed. I liked the Council's provision for developments to have the facility to link into communal heating sources should they become available. I notice in Section 10: 1-10 that there are targets for affordable homes and ones with affordable rent. I do not know if these are Government targets. My experience working in debt advice suggests that this must be a priority for Bedford Borough Council. So many problems I see are caused by lack of suitable housing.
The government guidelines are a national minimum standard but not Bedford Borough Council should be looking to the future. Milton Keynes is leading the way and Bedford should be looking to compete. New developments should be community lead and not just based on developers profit margins.
Not aware of anything.
Seeking Local Plan standards that go above and beyond the “baseline” requirements of the Building Regulations through the Local Plan could be supported, although it is emphasised that in all cases these are negotiable as part of viability assessments.
We had a "sustainable" standard for home's back in 2010 with timber frame construction. But this was thrown out by the Tory Gov, so we are back to building with inefficient breeze blocks again. What makes you think that this policy will stick? Just Build underground with timber prefabrication.
If there is it will emerge during the analysis needed to formulate the proposed new policies.
In addition to the points raised in regard to question 9 and in order to address the challenges of the climate change, we consider that more should be enforced upon developers to address sustainability in the design of developments in order to reduce the carbon footprint.
I do not feel in a position to answer this question.
See response to Question 9.