South West

Sustainability Checklist

For Developments

Consultation Draft

April 2006

South West

Sustainability Checklist For Developments

Consultation Draft – April 2006

Climate change - adaptation, mitigation and energy

Flooding (2 questions)

Cooling (1 question)

Heat Absorption (1 question)

Water Management (2 questions)

Carbon emission management (3 questions)

Sustainable Heating (1 question)

Weather resilience (1 question)

Community

Promoting community networks and interaction (1 question)

Involvement in decision making (1 question)

Supporting Public Services, Social Economy and Community Structure (1 question)

Accessibility (2 questions)

Community Management of the development (1 question)

Placemaking

Efficient use of land (3 questions)

Design Process (2 questions)

Form of Development (5 questions)

Open space (2 questions)

Mix of Use (3 questions)

Crime (1 question)

Street lighting/ pollution (1 question)

Transport

Public transport (3 questions)

Managed Parking Provision (3 questions)

Pedestrians/ cyclists (3 questions)

Reducing the need to travel (2 questions)

Appropriate transport hierarchy (1 question)

Ecology

Conservation (1 question)

Enhancement of ecology (2 questions)

Planting (1 question)

Resources

Appropriate use of land resources (1 question)

Environmental impact (2 questions)

Locally reclaimed materials (1 question)

Tranquility (1 question)

Protecting water quality (1 question)

Refuse Composting (2 questions)

Construction Waste (1 question)

Business

Competitive business (2 questions)

Effective infrastructure (1 question)

Employment (2 questions)

Business types (1 question)

Buildings

Specified BREEAM (1 question)

Climate change - adaptation, mitigation and energy

Flooding (2 questions)

Question1.1(1):

What measures have been taken to reduce the contribution the development may make to flash flooding?

Minimum / Site is demonstrated to be able to contain rainfall from 1:100 year rain events
Good practice / Site is demonstrated to be able to contain rainfall from 1:250 year rain events
Best Practice / Site is demonstrated to be able to contain rainfall from 1:500 year events

Question 1.1(2):

Is the development designed to reduce the impact that predicted flood levels would have on the development?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / Measures such as sleeved and valved utilities, safe entrance and egress routes, non habited ground floors, flood resistent materials, utilities to first floor levels, valved sewage pipes and sewers, buildings designed not to impede flow of water incorporated into scheme design
Best Practice / Development is not in an area defined as at moderate or significant risk of flooding

Cooling (1 question)

Question 1.2(1):

How are ventilation and cooling managed?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / Electrically powered and waste heat recovered from air exhaust and reused
Best Practice / Heating and cooling powered by ground water heat exchanger or renewables, or no mechanical ventilation or cooling required

Heat Absorption (1 question)

Question 1.3(1):

Is the development designed to reduce heat gain in the fabric of buildings and in public spaces?

A: Provision of appropriate shaded green space and tree cover

B: Green roofs and vegetated walls

C: Design to enable air-flow throughout the development

D: Open water and fountains in public spaces

E: Shaded public spaces and footpaths

F: Appropriate choice of external finishes to avoid heat absorption

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / A design strategy which addresses the issues above, or equivalent alternatives
Best Practice / not yet established

Water Management (2 questions)

Question 1.4(1):

What percentage of household baths, showers, hand basins and washing machines connected to grey water recycling systems to enable water re-use within the home or wider development?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / 25% - 50%
Best Practice / >50%

Question 1.4(2):

What percentage of the total roof area in the development is designed to allow the harvesting of rain water for re-use and/or is covered by green roofs?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / 50% of the roof area used for rainwater harvesting or green roofs
Best Practice / More than 50%% of the roof area used for rainwater harvesting or green roofs; captured water used for irrigation and toilet flushing and/or washing machines

Carbon emission management (3 questions)

Question 1.5(1):

What steps has the developer taken to prepare an energy strategy for the proposed development?

A: Minimising energy demand for the site through orientation and passive solar design and efficient energy infrastructure

B: Maximising the thermal efficiency of individual buildings through thermal mass, insulation and passive cooling measures.

C: Minimising demand for water heating, space heating and cooling, lighting and power in individual buildings through efficient equipment and controls

D: Calculating the residual energy demand for the site

E: Maximising the amount of the residual demand which can be provided through on-site generated renewable energy (either collective or integrated into individual buildings)

F: Meeting the remaining demand efficiently, e.g. CHP (non-biomass or waste powered), district heating and cooling, ground source heating and cooling

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / Steps B to E completed
Best Practice / Steps A to F completed

Question 1.5(2):

What % of total site energy demand is produced from an on-site renewable scheme (e.g. wind, solar, hydro photovoltaic bank, CHP operating on biomass or waste) in order to reduce dependance on carbon emitting sources

Minimum / Minimum set by RSS
Good practice / Exceeds RSS minimum, but does not generate whole energy demand from renewables
Best Practice / 100%

Question 1.5(3):

What percentage of buildings in the development where building integrated renewables (also known as micro generation technologies) are not fitted initially are designed to allow later installation of such technologies by building owners or occupiers?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / 60-80%
Best Practice / >80%

Sustainable Heating (1 question)

Question 1.6

To what extent does the development take into account the hierarchy for feasible heating systems

A: Neighbourhood co- or tri- generation heating/cooling schemes powered by renewables

B: Neighbourhood co- or tri-generation heating / cooling schemes

C: Ducting put in place to enable future connection to neighbourhood heating / cooling systems

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / C
Best Practice / B or A

Weather resilience (1 question)

Question 1.7(1):

Have new developments been designed to survive the expected impacts of forecast increased wind speeds and stronger rain events during the expected lifetime of the building?

Minimum / Building standards
Good practice / Exterior fittings (i.e. roof finishes, guttering, fencing etc) designed with withstand maximum predicted wind speeds. Rainwater goods designed to cope with anticipated incresed flows.
Best Practice / As good practice and development designed to minimise overall impact on air flow through the site through wind breaks, orientation and aerodynamic design.

Community

Promoting community networks and interaction (1 question)

Question 2.1:

What steps has the developer taken to establish the needs and pressures on the surrounding community are addressed within the proposed development?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / Consultation taken place with all tiers of local authority and the local community
Best Practice / Yes, with supplementary evidence showing how results were taken into account

Involvement in decision making (1 question)

Question 2.2:

Has the community been actively involved in the development proposal:

A: Local community stakeholders have been told about the proposal (eg public notices and adverts) so that they can comment to the Planning Authority

B: Local community stakeholders have been consulted for opinions on a pre-prepared scheme (eg leaflets and return forms)

C: Local community stakeholders have been asked to select their preferred option from a range of schemes and their preferred proposal has been put forward (eg through remote surveys or through a public meeting)

D: Local community stakeholders have been involved in the preparation of this proposal (eg through workshops or participative processes)

E: Local community stakeholders produced the guidelines for the development of this proposal (eg Village Design Statements, Place check, Charrettes)

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / C or D
Best Practice / E

Supporting Public Services, Social Economy and Community Structure (1 question)

Question 2.3:

Will a pack be provided to each dwelling or occupied unit containing information on:

-Local transport services

-Energy efficiency - including measure incorporated into the development and/or dwelling

-Local amenities

-Refuse collection

-Recycling facilities

-Local organisations and community groups

-Environmental technologies installed in the development and dwelling

-Water conservation tips

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / Pack provided including elements under developer control
Best Practice / As good practice but includes information on services provided by other organisations

Accessibility (2 questions)

Question 2.4 (1):

What % of housing units will be accessible to disabled people in line with building regulations part M?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / standard set by the local planning authority plus 10-20%
Best Practice / standard set by the local planning authority plus >20%

Question 2.4 (2):

What percentage of homes are designed to Lifetime Homes/BS8300 standard?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / 75%
Best Practice / 75-100%

Community Management of the development (1 question)

Question 2.5:

Does the development have provision for community management of facilities, open space, SUDS, grey water schemes, meeting place, allotments etc

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / Yes actively marketed to potential occupiers / owners
Best Practice / Yes as good practice plus support sources identified to help in initial stages (local authority, community group, community trusts, charity etc)

Placemaking

Efficient use of land (3 questions)

Question 3.1 (1):

How can the site be best characterised?

A)Contaminated land - remediated or awaiting remediation

B)Brownfield - derelict urban land

C)Undeveloped- Includes residential gardens.

D)Other: including brownfield - rural land, designated open space, designated sports pitches or recreation land, green belt, high quality agricultural land, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, land designated as of ecological importance, land with workable or potentially workable minerals, land at moderate or significant risk of flooding.

Minimum / None set
Good practice / C
Best Practice / B or A

Question 3.1 (2):

How much of the develoment area reclaims previously developed or Brownfield land?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / >60%
Best Practice / 100%

Question 3.1 (3):

What percentage of the existing buildings on site are being re-used/ refurbished?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / >50%
Best Practice / 100%

Design Process (2 questions)

Question 3.2(1):

Has a landscaping scheme been drawn up for the site to provide an integrated and ecologically sensitive green infrastructure? This should include POS, street scenes, public/private space boundaries and site boundaries, with landscape and ecological assets preserved and appropriately augmented.

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / Drawn up with landscape architect OR a qualified ecologist
Best Practice / Drawn up with landscape architect AND qualified ecologist

Question 3.2(2):

Has a design statement, incorporating the findings of context appraisals and explaining emerging design principles been discussed with the Local Authority prior to the application?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / Yes -building on context appraisals that include landscape and ecological assets, existing street network, surrounding and prospective community and demographic appraisal, block& plot size and scale, height and massing.
Best Practice / Yes and involving CABE Design Champion and referencing Urban Design Compendium (English Partnerships)

Form of Development (5 questions)

Question 3.3(1):

Are there physical and visual links between the development and the surrounding area, and how do they integrate the development with the surrounding area?

1)Are new routes into the site continuations of existing access points from the surrounding area?

2)How direct are sight lines of existing neighbourhood streets continued through the site?

3)Are main routes within the site connected directly to main routes in the wider area without feeding through existing routes with less capacity or with a primarily residential function?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / A design strategy addressing all three issues
Best Practice / Not currently identified.

Question 3.3(2):

Does the proposed street network provide a high quality public realm with a pedestrian friendly environment?

1)Has a choice of good pedestrian routes connecting to services and places people want to use been provided?

2)Are pedestrian routes direct with safe crossings at points where pedestrians want to cross?

3)Has a design strategy been produced to ensure that pedestrian routes are attractive, well-lit and safe, and avoiding where possible unsegregated shared use (pedestrian and cycle) routes?

4)Will traffic calming design measures be applied?

Minimum / < 2 points addressed
Good practice / Yes to 2 or more
Best Practice / Yes to all questions

Question 3.3(3):

Has the development been designed to be easy for users to understand and orientate themselves in, and does it promote a neighbourhood identity?

1)Have entrances to the development and its different areas been designed as gateways?

2)Have landmarks, including memorable buildings, been used to help users orientate themselves?

3)Have clear views and deflected views of landmarks been created?

4)Have corner buildings been heightened or building line altered to act as landmarks?

5)Have nodes been emphasised through surface treatment?

Minimum / <3 points addressed
Good practice / Yes to 3 or more
Best Practice / Yes to all questions

Question 3.3 (4):

Have 'Active Frontage Guidelines' of the English Partnerships Urban Design Compendium been met in order to promote vitality? Note active frontages means encouraging pedestrian entrances and exits onto streets, which are frequently used

Minimum / < Good Practice
Good practice / 100% achieves at least Grade C frontage, 25% Grade A
Best Practice / 100% achieves at least Grade C frontage, 50% Grade A

Question 3.3 (5):

Is the appearance of the development visually appropriate and will it complement local character whilst creating a strong identity for the new neighbourhood?

1)Building materials and colour complementing local character

2)Building style and form enhancing local character

3)Roofscapes visually respecting the developments location within a local context

4)Continuity of local building details such as windows and doors

5)Residential component of the development fostering a potential for personalisation by prospective residents

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required.
Good practice / Yes to 3 questions
Best Practice / Addresses all issues, and uses locally sourced primary materials

Open space (2 questions)

Question 3.4 (1):

What level of access does the local community have to public green space?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / 25% of dwellings are within 400m
Best Practice / ANGsT standard met

Question 3.4 (2):

Is there provision of accessible play space for the new development?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / Meets good practice guide "Developing accessible play space: a good practice guide" ODPM
Best Practice / Exceeds the good practice guide's requirements

Mix of Use (3 questions)

Question 3.5 (1):

Has flexibility been designed into commercial units to provide adaptability to changing market needs?

1)Optimum adaptability to future use changes in terms of building depth (9-13m)

2)Optimum adaptability to future uses in terms of building width (5-7m frontages) or multiples of

3)Floor to floor heights to allow for vertical segregation of mixed uses and provide adaptability for future changes of use

4)Percentage of buildings designed for flexible use (25%or more)

5)Optimum floor to floor heights to allow for future conversion from residential to commercial percentage of buildings designed for flexible use (25%or more)

Minimum / Not addressed
Good practice / Yes to 2
Best Practice / Yes to 3 or more

Question 3.5 (2):

Is the affordable housing indistinguishable from the rest of the development in terms of aesthetics and distribution?

Minimum / No set minimum standard
Good practice / Yes to one
Best Practice / Yes to both

Question 3.5 (3):

Has a statement been prepared explaining how the development contributes to the housing needs of the area, in terms of type, size, tenure and reflecting the needs of the current and prospective community demographics, and what steps have been taken to make the development affordable for local people?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / All issues listed investigated and addressed
Best Practice / As good practice, and development incorporates innovative purchase models enabling local people to acquire housing, with restrictive occupancy covenants placed as appropriate.

Crime (1 question)

Question 3.6:

What % of buildings have been designed to ‘Secure By Design’ or equivalent standards?

Minimum / See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required
Good practice / 60-80%
Best Practice / >80%

Street lighting/ pollution (1 question)

Question 3.7:

What steps have been taken to ensure that the development lighting scheme (street lighting, way marking and security lighting - including those on buildings) has been designed to be energy efficient and minimise light pollution)