Presentation by Andy von Bradsky on the Code for Sustainable Homes and Upholding Quality and Sustainability.

1. Beyond the Code for Sustainable Homes
+
Upholding Quality and Sustainability
Andy von Bradsky
Chairman, PRP

2. • Quality and sustainability
• Housing Standards Review
• Implementation
• Continuing improvement
• Housing in the digital age
• Labelling

3. Pioneering performance - BedZed

4. A pathway to improvement

5. Code level 6 – Hanham Hall

6. Mainstreaming quality - Derwenthorpe

7. Housing Standards Review Background

8. Industry view – complex and confusing

9. The Untenable Forest

10. 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

11. 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

12. All change….out
gone
Planning standards safe
no other Technical standards
uncertain
gone

13. All change….in
+ ZERO CARBON WITH ALLOWABLE SOLUTIONS BY 2016

14. Application of new system

15. Transition arrangements

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. A positive step forward….
• Good progress
• Level playing field – tenure blind
• Certainty in the supply chain
• Enables innovation
• Impact on growth and scale

23. Delivering volume - large scale development

24. Delivering scale– high density living

25. Changing tenures - private rented sector

26. Responding to an Ageing Population

27. More standardisation

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Part L and Zero Carbon

32. Part L and Zero Carbon

33. The future for voluntary standards

34. Housing in the digital information age
• Smart phone apps
• Planning portals
• Visualisation
• BIM for design & management
• Customisation
• Home controls
• Monitoring running costs

35. BIM for Housing

36. Off site manufacture

37. A better informed customer

38. 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.

39. Home Performance Labelling – Housing Forum

40. A consumer focus .….BRE

41. Home Quality Mark

42. A consumer focus .….Next Generation

43. 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.

44. Finally……

45. Beyond the Code for Sustainable Homes
+
Upholding Quality and Sustainability
Andy von Bradsky
Chairman, PRP