Sustainability: BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH)

CSH

If you are a developer trying to reduce your impact on the natural environment via BREEAM or CSH, then look no further. As biodiversity becomes an increasingly integral part of the planning process, developers are required to make more of a commitment to minimising their environmental impact. With over 40 years of experience in habitat creation and management, Penny Anderson Associates Ltd. (PAA) can guarantee a quality advisory service.

PAA has considerable expertise in carrying out ecological surveys and assessments for BREEAM and CSH and all our ecological staff are members of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), which is a BRE (Building Research Establishment) requirement for a registered Ecological Consultancy. PAA has fully qualified BREEAM assessors available to help you achieve your BREEAM credit targets.
Our approach to carrying out BREEAM and CSH assessments is as follows:

1. Preliminary advice on achieving ecology and land use credits;
2. Carry out specifically designed ecological survey;
3. Produce a tailored report dealing with each ecology and land use credit;
4. Discuss opportunities and constraints for ecological enhancement;
5. Provide an assessment of the numbers of credits likely at the design stage;
6. Liaise with landscape architects in the design scheme;
7. Provide management plans and specific planting schemes; and
8. Provide an audit following completion of the development.

What are BREEAM and CSH?
BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) AssessmentsBREEAM are used to assess buildings against a number of sustainability criteria, including waste, energy, materials and water and are recognised as industry Best Practice by the construction sector. In assessing a building’s environmental performance the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) has become the standard measure.

On the 27 February 2008 the Government confirmed that from May 2008 it would be mandatory for all new homes to have a rating against the CSH. Please note that the new regulations for providing for mandatory ratings do not apply to properties (individual or as part of an ongoing development) where the initial notice, full plans or Building Notice have been received by the relevant Local Authority Building Control body prior to 1st May 2008.

Although the individual sections of BREEAM and CSH vary, these assessments enable developers, Local Education Authorities and Housing Associations to measure and improve the design and specification of their schemes in relation to a nationally recognised rating. Individual developments are awarded “Pass”, “Good”, “Very Good” or “Excellent” under BREEAM and the CSH uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance.

Ecology and Land Use is one category that may be considered by the developer to evaluate their proposals. Although optional, in order to achieve better than average ratings, issues related to Ecology and Land Use need to be addressed.

For more details on our BREEAM and CSH services, please
contact us