gordon miller's Blog

eco homes and sustainable development in the residential built environment in the UK and overseas.

Mayor Johnson's new London Housing Design Guide

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Friday, June 12, 2009

DELEGATES at the Delivering Homes for Londoners conference, hosted by the NLA in London, were yesterday given a preview presentation of the Mayor of London's new Housing Design Guide policy document.

Geoff Raw, Director of Design, Policy and Planning for the London Development Agency (LDA), which is the Mayor of London's agency for business and jobs, outlined Mayor Boris Johnson's desires to see that housing is at the forefront of London's response to climate change needs and social changes.

The mayor has set a target to halve overcrowding in social housing by 2016. The housing & homelessness charity Shelter claims that one in three children in London, and one in ten nationally, is living in overcrowded accommodation.

Mr Raw said: "The Mayor's Housing Design Guide is an attempt to consolidate a broad range of information currently published in to one overarching document. The aim is to raise housing design standards, which have been poor in some cases throughout the economic boom years, particularly in social housing."

Mr Raw outlined the Guide’s six key aspects, which include minimum design standards and levels of quality recommended in some cases. The Guide has been drawn up in consultation with housing industry professionals.

1. Multi-density and mixed type developments
2. Shaping places - the space between
3. Arriving home - the street to front door
4. Good dwelling space - needs and minimum standards for interior and private outdoor usable space
5. Home as a place of retreat - include natural daylight and privacy considerations
6. Climate change mitigation and response - inline with Code for Sustainable home requirements and with emphasis on mitigating the urban heat island effect, which London and all cities suffer, through living roofs and walls

Mr Raw said: "Currently each London borough sets its own agenda, within the national legislative framework. It's the mayor's aim that we have one Housing Design Guide that unifies all London boroughs.

"[Furthermore], we aim that London will lead the way for national design standards - and it's our aim that the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA), which is the national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England, adopts the Mayor of London's Housing Design Guide, which will enable this to happen.

Mr Raw noted that if the HCA does adopt the Mayor of London's Housing Design Guide then Registered Social Landlords (RSL's), who are commissioning the majority of new homes being built in the capital today, will also do so because they receive funding from the HCA.

Andy von Bradsky, chairman of PRP Architects, who are working on housing regeneration projects at Clapham Park Estate and also in Haggerston, East London, speaking after Mr Raw, said that it is his wish that the published Housing Design Guide is far reaching in positioning London as the world's premier 'green' city.

Based on what he had heard during Mr Raw’s presentation he doubted the Guide would enable that to happen. Responding to the proposition: Moving towards zero-carbon homes in London, Mr von Bradsky noted that being able to achieve zero carbon status is a learning journey and we are not there yet as things stand, but that it can be achieved.

He said: "Through energy efficiency and reduced consumption, district-wide and community energy generation schemes, and by adding renewables to existing housing stock it can be done. Already, building new homes that are 44% more energy efficient is easily achievable through addressing the building envelope."

The Mayor of London's Housing Design Guide, delivered by the LDA, will be formally launched on 8 July 2009.

US launches $4bn green housing initiative

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The Obama-led US Government has unveiled a $4bn (£2.5bn) plan to upgrade public housing for low-income Americans, as part of an ambitious green job-creation project.

The renovation scheme will replace windows, insulation and light bulbs in ageing and neglected low-income housing stock. $500m of the funding will be used to train local people to do the work.

The funds are the first released under the President's green job creation plan announced as part of a $787bn economic recovery plan.

Van Jones, the White House adviser on green jobs, said: "The renovations of public housing stock would account for about 40% of the funds set aside by Obama to improve energy use in government buildings."

The administration envisages a plan where home owners can have their homes retrofitted for greater energy efficiency simply by ticking a box on their utility bill, and then have the cost of the renovations factored into their bills.

In the UK, The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has introduced consultation on a scheme to offer existing homeowners low interest loans and ‘green makeovers’ to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

The consultation discusses plans for a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, designed to encourage homeowners to install renewable technologies.

Energy and Climate Change secretary Ed Miliband said: “We need to move from incremental steps forward on household energy efficiency to a comprehensive national plan - the Great British refurb.

"We know the scale of the challenge: wasted energy is costing families on average £300 a year, and more than a quarter of all our CO2 emissions are from our homes.”

TV presenter Kevin McCloud has launched the Great British Refurb campaign (www.greatbritishrefurb.co.uk) to put pressure on the Government to "help make it easier, more affordable and more attractive for everyone to go green at home".

The campaign, launched in April 2009 at the Grand Designs Live Show, invites the public to sign an online petition to lobby the Government.

The UK Green Building Council has launched a task group to report on the practical steps needed to make a new funding mechanism - pay as you save - for domestic refurbishment a reality.

Ideas mooted under the the “pay as you save” system, include:

    * A package of low-carbon measures in the home would be funded by a third party, with no up-front cost to the householder, landlord or tenant

    * The cost of the measures would be recovered through a charge on the property over a period of 25 years, regardless of ownership

    * Even accounting for the recovery of those costs, the householder would still make savings on their bills.

Gordon Miller, founder of eco homes and sustainable residential development website www.whatgreenhome.com said: "The Obama Government is acting on its election pledges to stimulate the economy through green jobs and investment in renewables technology.

"In the UK, however, what we have is more rhetoric from the Minister about the need to do something and yet another round of consultation about how we might go about achieving it. What we need is less talking and more action.

"Whatgreenhome.com supports the campaign coordinated by the FMB that calls for a cut in the VAT rate on ‘green’ home improvements to 5%.

"A further positive move would be the speedy set up of a nationwide programme to implement feed-in tariffs to encourage homeowners to generate electricity from renewables and to sell the surplus to the national grid.

"Lastly, we argue that Council Tax rebates for energy efficient homes – measured through EPCs - would be the best mechanism to reward those endeavouring to reduce their home’s carbon footprint."

Ecobuilding a green future

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Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, talked up the carbon challenge facing London at the first day of Ecobuild + Futurebuild, London. His address lighted on a the previous day’s announcement that the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) - the Government’s body tasked with delivering the housing and regeneration agenda - is to invest millions into kick starting key regeneration sites across London.  

Five projects have been targeted for immediate intervention as part of the new 'Kick Start' programme, which will get 1,500 homes started over the next 12 months, with the potential to provide 6,000 new homes - 3,500 of which will be affordable. The initial five projects that will receive funding totalling £93m are:

Aylesbury Estate (LB Southwark, London & Quadrant); Heart of East Greenwich (HOEG) London Wide Initiative (LWI) project (LB Greenwich, First Base, Southern Housing(; St Andrew's Hospital (LB Tower Hamlets, Barratt Homes, Circle Anglia); Woodberry Down (LB Hackney (Berkeley Homes and Circle Anglia); Holloway Road LWI project (LB Islington, First Base, Southern Housing.  

The news swiftly followed the announcement made last week that The Mayor of London has appointed John Plowman as the new Chair of the London Sustainable Development Commission. Plowman’s role is to promote integrated and innovative solutions, policies and programmes to deliver improvements in quality of life for everyone, now and in the future. A key responsibility is the 2012 Olympic Games programme.

Mayor Johnson’s address was just one of several high profile speakers at the Ecobuild event. Baron Hattersley spoke on the housing challenges facing Britain. He noted that the country has to provide better quality rented housing, and genuine mixed tenure developments if our inner cities are not to degenerate further. He said: “Well built, safe and warm housing is essential to people’s wellbeing and sense of community.”

Robert Napier, chairman of the HCA, responded in a seminar entitled what price sustainability? that the economic downturn is not a reason or an excuse for not following a low carbon agenda [in the housing sector]. He said: “It is essential that we build decent places for people to live that are also green. We can’t afford to have to retrofit in years to come houses being built now.”

Also at Ecobuild, BREEAM, LEED and Green Star, the organisations behind the world's three leading environmental assessment tools, announced they would work together to create global standards to measure carbon emissions from new buildings. BREEAM – which is owned and run by BRE – and the US and Australian equivalents, respectively LEED and Green Star, at present use differing methods to measure the environmental impact of buildings.

Now, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the UK Green Building Council, BRE, the US Green Building Council and the Green Building Council Australia to develop common metrics to measure emissions of CO2 equivalents from new homes and buildings. A working group formed of representatives from each of the rating tools will develop the metrics, and seek to align the tools and provide consistency in measurement and reporting.

Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said: “Rating tools like BREEAM, LEED and Green Star have a proven track record in driving significant improvements in performance, and I'm delighted they are now coming together to help create an international language that will enable us to talk with one voice about the vital role green buildings can play in creating a low-carbon future.”

Eco-towns public consultation deadline extended

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Eco-towns public consultation deadline extended

Local residents are to be given more time to respond to the Government's second eco-towns public consultation after Housing Minister Margaret Beckett today extended the deadline for responses to 30 April 2009.

The consultation on the draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) and Sustainability Appraisal on eco-towns has been extended to Thursday 30 April, meaning it will run for more than five months. There will be a further opportunity for the public to have a say once planning applications are submitted for eco-towns.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said: "Eco-towns present a superb opportunity to provide more affordable housing which is built to the UK's toughest ever green standards, and we cannot afford to miss it. But it is vital we identify the right locations for these eco-towns and I will not support any proposal that our assessment and consultation concludes is unsuitable.

"I know this is an issue that raises a lot of strong opinion on all sides. I have extended the deadline to ensure that all parties, irrespective of their views, are given the full opportunity to have their say, and I urge everyone to respond to this consultation."

The consultation extension has been announced following yesterday's release of the full High Court written judgement on the Judicial Review on eco-towns, which the Government has won on all grounds, defeating the Better Accessible Responsible Development (BARD) group which is opposing plans for the Middle Quinton eco-town 10 miles south of Stratford-upon-Avon.

A viability study on the proposals submitted by developers will also be published shortly and will provide more information to people looking to respond to the consultation. Ministers will carefully consider all consultation responses before coming to final decisions on the PPS.

Following the end of this consultation, the Government will announce a final shortlist of locations with the potential to site an eco-town. Schemes in these locations will then need to apply for planning permission and go through the local planning process.

Eco-towns should be considered in the same way as any other major development proposal and the Government remains committed to the plan-led system. The eco-town standards set out in the Planning Policy Statement, and the assessment work on locations, will be a material consideration for decision makers.

There are currently 11 locations on the eco-towns shortlist from 57 initial proposals that was reduced to an original shortlist of 15. Four of the 15 have since withdrawn including the developers promoting Marston Vale in Bedfordshire who withdrew from the eco-towns process earlier in February.

The remaining 11 eco-towns shortlisted are: Rackheath, Greater Norwich; Middle Quinton, Warwickshire; Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire; Ford, West Sussex; Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire; St Austell (China Clay Community), Cornwall; Rossington, South Yorkshire; North East Elsenham, Essex; Pennbury, Leicestershire; Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire; - North West Bicester (Cherwell) - an alternative to Weston Otmoor.

Existing eco-homes developments in England including those at Newhall, Essex, Fairglen, Cornwall, Telford Millennnium Community, Shropshire, and the Old Apple Store, Somerset, can be found on eco homes portal http://www.whatgreenhome.com/

Green 'Changing Rooms' launched

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Friday, February 13, 2009

A Government scheme is being introduced to offer homeowners low interest loans and green makeovers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

The plan includes proposals for improving the quality and widening the availability of information and advice, new finance packages – including loans and grants - and options for the delivery system of energy-efficient and low-carbon improvements.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: "We need to move from incremental steps forward on household energy efficiency to a comprehensive national plan - the Great British refurb.

"We know the scale of the challenge: wasted energy is costing families on average £300 a year, and more than a quarter of all our CO2 emissions are from our homes.”

Miliband admitted that it’s too much to expect homeowners to face the challenge on their own. He proposes the energy companies will pay for the grants. Opponents argue that the energy providers will simply fund the grants by raising fuel prices.

He said: "Energy efficiency and low-carbon energy are the fairest routes to curbing emissions, saving money for families, improving our energy security and insulating us from volatile fossil fuel prices."

Lord Stern of Bradford, who authored the Government’s 2006 report on Climate Change, said now as a good time to invest while interest rates are low. He argued that billons of pounds should be spent on environmentally friendly public works as part of an economic stimulus package.

Housing minister Margaret Beckett said: "In essence, what we're proposing is a sort of green version of 'Changing Rooms' - a sustainable makeover for every home.

“[We propose] all basic measures, like lagging lofts and filling cavity walls, for every home by 2015. More substantial improvements for seven million homes by 2020. And by 2030, all homes to benefit from all the cost-effective measures possible.”

The results of a poll conducted on http://www.whatgreenhome.com/ in November and December last year revealed that 93.8% of respondents would be prepared to pay 5% more for an energy-efficient house that saved them money on their energy bills.

New homes in the UK already have to meet amongst the most stringent energy efficiency standards anywhere in the world. As a stepping stone to all new homes being zero carbon for emissions by 2016, the Government's Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), dictates all new homes built in England must be 25 per cent more energy-efficient than previous standards by 2010.

Currently, according to a comprehensive survey, released on 20 January 2009, by Halifax Estate Agents, two out of five homes in England and Wales (44%) rate 'average' for energy efficiency, falling into Band D of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which grades the energy efficiency of a house.

Examples of well-insulated energy efficient new homes include the new mid-terraced houses for sale at North Chase, Newhall in Harlow, which have an average EPC energy efficiency rating of B, which only 1% of all homes in the UK have attained. For all new house types at Newhall the EPC ratings exceed the average for all homes in England and Wales. Prices at Newhall start from £185,000. http://www.whatgreenhome.com/united_kingdom_page8.html#northchase

At the Old Apple Store, Stawell in Somerset, the new detached houses have an average EPC rating of C, falling just one point short of a B rating. The homes’ energy efficiency is outshone by its A rating for environmental impact. The detached homes score 102 points, emitting just 0.3 tonnes of CO2 annually. The average household in the UK emits 6 tonnes of CO2 each year. The marker for the A Band is 92 points. Prices at the Old Apple Store start from £275,000. http://www.whatgreenhome.com/united_kingdom_page2.html#oldapplestore

At Fairglen, Hayle near St Ives in Cornwall, the new three-bedroom houses have an average EPC rating of C, scoring 80 on the scale that is only 1 point away from being awarded a B rating. The energy efficiency at the homes in Fairglen is so good that projected per annum running costs amount to only £358 – lighting £44, heating £207, hot water £107. Prices at Fairglen start from £250,000. http://www.whatgreenhome.com/united_kingdom_page3.html#fairglen

Eco-towns High Court ruling rejects challenge

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Friday, January 30, 2009

The challenge, made by number of pressure groups fighting individual eco-town proposals, was spearheaded by the Better Accessible Responsible Development (Bard) group which is opposing plans for the Middle Quinton eco-town 10 miles south of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Mr Justice Walker, sitting at the High Court in London, stressed that the project was "at a relatively early stage" and there would be future opportunities for consultation.

He ruled the Government had not followed unlawful procedures or attempted to "outflank" the planning system. He also rejected accusations that it had proceeded with "a closed mind".

Housing and planning minister Margaret Beckett said: "Eco-towns are a unique opportunity to deliver much-needed affordable housing, built in a way which, by incorporating the very latest energy saving techniques, benefits both residents and the wider community. I am pleased the Judge has recognised the Government has acted properly and dismissed the review on all grounds.

"Several local authorities are working with us on potential eco-towns and our second consultation, on both the shortlist of locations and our proposed standards, remains open. Once we have identified a final shortlist of potential locations, developers will need to go through the local planning process – giving people a third opportunity to have their say."

David Bliss, chairman of the Bard campaign, said after the ruling: "We are disappointed but this is by no means the end of the road for Bard's challenges to the Middle Quinton proposal. No less than 47 national, regional and local representative bodies agree that poorly-sited new towns will neither meet their promised eco-agenda nor provide affordable housing in places where people want to live."

A second round of consultation on the Government’s proposed eco-towns will be open until 06 March 2009. The deadline is an extension to the earlier mid-February deadline. As part of the consultation a website has been launched to both explain the eco-towns concept and standards, and to invite comments and ideas. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/campaigns/ecotowns/DG_171848

A spokesperson for eco homes website http://www.whatgreenhome.com/ which independently reviews eco homes for sale at more than 40 developments in England and in 27 other countries worldwide, said: “The High Court rejection was vital in the context of the bigger global warming picture and Britain’s legally binding commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050 against 1990 levels.”

The case for eco-towns

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

In response to the High Court challenge commencing today over the Government's Eco-towns project Gideon Amos OBE, Chief Executive of leading planning and environmental charity the TCPA, said: "Whatever the outcome of this judgement it remains absolutely right that as a society we should plan and deliver exemplar developments - such as Eco-towns.

“These developments could reduce emissions and adapt our building methods to the new climate realities we are faced with. Reverting to bog standard ‘business as usual' will not be the right answer and hopes of scuppering the whole programme are woefully misplaced for this reason.”

No decisions have been made on the Judicial Review and Government continues in consultation mode on both the shortlist of locations and the proposed sustainability standards set out in the draft Planning Policy Statement on Eco-towns.

In line with commitments which she has made to the claimants and other interested parties in the case, the Housing Minister Margaret Beckett MP has decided to extend the deadline for responses on the draft Planning Policy Statement and the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal on Eco-Towns from 19 February 2009 to 6 March 2009.

Ms Beckett, in an interview with the Sunday Times on 18 January 2009, indicated that it is highly unlikely that 10 new Eco-town schemes would be green-lighted this year, as was the Government’s initial intention.

To date only one scheme, Rackheath, near Norwich, Norfolk, is said to meet all the necessary criteria to be able to proceed to development. Critically, there is little or no opposition to the Rackheath Eco-town scheme.

Ms Becket said: “[The Government] is still hopeful that we can make quite a lot of progress. The others [apart from rackheath] are, well, yes, there’s a prospect, a possibility, but they have a lot more work to do . . .”

TCPA’s Amos said: "The Eco-towns programme should be limited to a small number of exemplar developments, so that most decisions continue to come forward through local authority led development plans - a process which can take as long as ten to 15 years."

Existing eco-homes for sale in the UK and overseas can be viewed at http://www.whatgreenhome.com

Zero carbon homes consultation launched

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Government last year set out its plans to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016. Today it has launched a consultation process to enable the detailed requirements to be set that meet green objectives whilst recognising the difficult economic conditions currently facing the housing industry.

The consultation runs until 18 March 2009. It is intended to give an opportunity for all groups to have their say on the proposed structure and further details, including the minimum level of carbon emissions that are reduced by onsite means and the list of allowable solutions.

Presently, more than 25 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions are produced by our housing. The Government is legally committed to reducing total carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 against 1990 levels, and requires both existing and new homes to become more carbon efficient to have a hope of meeting its target.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said: "Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world, and introducing zero carbon homes is an important part of our plans to tackle this, as well as further action to tackle emissions from the existing housing stock.

"I am absolutely committed to our 2016 target, and this demanding goal is already spurring action here and abroad.

"With the consultation process we are launching today, we are confident we will be able to achieve our ambitions while giving the industry flexibility for how they get there."

Welcoming publication of the consultation, UK Green Building Council Chief Executive Paul King said: "The science on climate change tells us action is even more urgent than it was two years ago when the zero carbon target was first set. So Government should be congratulated for sticking by the commitment that all new homes will be zero carbon from 2016.

"UK-GBC has some strong views about what should and shouldn't be allowed to contribute to the definition of a zero carbon home. But as our task group report showed earlier in the year, these are very complex issues and there will be a lively debate over the coming months.

"The important thing is that, by the end of the process, we have an approach which is clear, provides certainty to all parties and retains the original environmental ambition underpinning it."

The proposed definition of a zero carbon home includes a very high level of energy efficiency, a minimum level of carbon reductions that would need to be achieved, compared to today's Building Regulations, through a combination of energy efficiency measures, onsite energy supply and/or connections to low carbon heat. This is referred to as the 'carbon compliance' level.

The Government is consulting on reductions between 44 and 100 per cent of emissions from the home (not including cooking and appliances, which are not at present covered by Building Regulations).

Zero carbon status is measured against the annual emissions from heating, ventilation, hot water, fixed lighting, and the expected use of appliances.

Following the consultation process, the Government will set minimum level of carbon reduction that developers must achieve on the site of the housing development, such as through improved insulation, or providing onsite renewable energy.

Many welcome the consultation. Pete Halsall, Manging director of BioRegional Quintain, joint developer of One Brighton, said: “We are pleased - given pressure that is inevitably being brought to bear - that the Government is keeping its determination for homes to be zero carbon by 2016.

“We are equally sure that the industry, although it may not fully realise it, has the capacity to innovate at sufficient speed and in the right way - maintaining market appeal and competitiveness - to deliver this target, without which progress would be uncertain.”

The Zero Carbon consultation document is available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/theenvironment/zerocarbonhomes/

Visit http://www.whatgreenhome.com/united_kingdom.html to see profiles of more than 40 develpments in the UK where low carbon homes have been built or are in construction.

One Planet One Day

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Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Organised by sustainable solutions facilitator BioRegional, key industry and sustainability leaders, who are responsible for shaping our communities, came together to share ideas and practices through a series of speaker-led seminars.

Sue Riddlestone, Executive Director and co-founder of BioRegional said: "What we really want is for the event to be useful."

Those speaking included Sunand Prasad, President of RIBA, Hank Dittmar, CE of The Prince's Foundation for the Build Environment, Richard Simmons, CE of CABE, and Dan Epstein, Head of Sustainable Development for the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Chairs included Kevin McCloud, Pooran Desai, Sustainability Director of BioRegional Quintain, a sustainable communities developer, and John Walker, Chairman of the Eco-towns Challenge Panel.

Stephen Stone, CEO of housebuilder Crest Nicholson, who have co-developed the UK's frst zero carbon commmunity, One Brighton, with BioRegional Quintain, adhering to the ten One Planet Living sustainability principles, addressed the audience with a wry speech.

He said: "Housebuilders have got it tough at the moment; it's a very challenging time - not that we expect much sympathy. House sales and land values are down, there's no liquidity in the market and on top of that we have been told [by the government] we must develop sustainably.

"We are all for developing sustainably. It's good for motivating us as a company and our onsite workforce, and gives our shareholders profit and value for future generations. But [the government's edict that we must build to] level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes by 2016 is crackers.

"Housebuilders are not energy providers and nor should we be. [Level 6 of the CSH calls for onsite energy generation from renewable sources.] For Crest Nicholson, passive house standards, which is level 4 of the Code [high thermal values but no onsite microgeneration], is enough."

Ducan Price, CEO of Camco, A climate change specialist company, said: "The government will be announcing soon its zero carbon definition. It must be hoped that the insistence of onsite renewable provision [level 6] is relaxed.

"What we should be trying to achieve is is zero carbon growth and not zero carbon per se. Level 6 shouldn't be the focus as it is probably not achievable."

Richard Simmons noted that findings from a working study of a several prototype homes by housebuilder Barratt supported a low carbon rather than a zero carbon approach.

He said: "The outake of the study is that microgenerators [solar and wind] breakdown an awful lot; ground source heat generally works well, and CHP works but it's a bit big and a bit noisy to have in your own home."

Mr Stone concluded that the housing market should expect challenging times to be with us for a good while yet.

"Crest Nicolson belives it could be three or four years before the market recovers. We predict a 30 per cent peak to trough fall in house prices [in the UK]."

Agency for change?

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Saturday, November 29, 2008

Sir Bob Kerslake, the new Chief Executive, who formerly turned around Sheffield city council, will head up the HCA. Part of Mr Kerslake’s responsibility will be to deliver Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s pledge to deliver three million new homes in England by 2020.

He will also have to ensure they are zero carbon by 2016 and that a large and growing proportion of them are designated as affordable homes. The HCA has an investment budget of more than £5bn per year.

Mr Kerslake said: “Most of us know someone in housing need and have experience of run-down town centres and estates. As the single, national housing and regeneration agency, the HCA will work with local authorities and other partners to improve the quality, choice and energy efficiency of homes in urban, rural and coastal areas.

“We’re responsible for the delivery of most of England’s affordable housing to help people such as key workers and first-time buyers get onto the property ladder. We’re equally committed to the well-being of local places by building new and rejuvenating old communities.

“Our joined up approach to housing and regeneration means we can strike a balance between addressing local housing needs improving our existing towns and cities.”

Already, the HCA, whose formation was announced earlier this year, is having an impact on the London housing market. Boris Johnson, The Mayor of London, has last week announced a draft strategy working closely with the HCA to invest nearly £2 billion every year from the London housing budget to deliver new homes and improve existing homes.

A target is to deliver 50,000 new affordable homes in London by 2011.

Through the strategy's ‘First Steps' programme, the Mayor wants to increase the opportunity for home ownership in London by raising the household income limit to £72,000 for low cost ownership schemes and by simplifying access to them.

The initiative would enable any household earning at the basic rate of income tax to qualify and is a clear move away from eligibility based on employment (key worker) categories.

Mayor Johnson said: “The strategy focuses not only on the issues facing the housing market in these difficult times but the historic problems of affordability, homelessness and overcrowding. It is designed to meet the needs of Londoners aspiring to get a foot on the housing ladder.”

The HCA's remit is nationwide. Private housebuilders as well as housing associations will be guided by the new agency's edicts.

Pete Halsall, managing director of sustainable developers Bioregional Quintain, said: “As housebuilders prioritise survival over development, they will need to be hand held in adapting their business models to the needs of long term sustainable community development, and this should be a prime focus for the HCA.”

Not everyone believes the HCA will be able to deliver easily a bold new housing agenda. Ben Derbyshire, managing director of HTA Architects, said: “The new agency has all the powers it needs. It can buy sites, it can fund development, it can set standards appropriate to the circumstances, and it can select developers.

“Whatever the HCA does, it needs to act fast because the property industry is now shrinking to the point that it will not be able to recover when funding and confidence do return to the market.”

Into greenest Africa

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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Environmentally sensitive resort Medina Palms, located on the Kenyan coast, was officially launched to the British public last night.

The event was hosted by Knight Frank and presented by Medina Palms managing director Nigel Rowley, who has a passion for Kenya borne of 20 years visiting and living in the African county.

Mr Rowley said: “My wife and I came to Kenya on honeymoon and fell in love with the country, the people and the way of life. Here, you have what is one of the top 10 beaches in the world, great water sports and world class fishing, and safari is only two hours away.

“Having a real understanding of the country is important if you plan to develop. We feel we have that because we’ve built our own home here and understand the law, the financial system and the environmental assessments that are required to build.”

The small resort of only 51 villas, lodges and apartments is set 30 metres back from the high tide line on the white sand beaches of the Indian Ocean. Located close to the town of Watamu. and nearby Malindi, which has a strong Italian influence, the set back from the beach is indicative of the sensitive development being practised.

Prices start from a very modest £160,425 for a two-bedroom apartment in the Medina (enclosed courtyard) phase of the resort. Four-bedroom Beach villas are priced from £395,000. Presently, 22 properties have been bought or reserved.

A strong conservation and social responsibility ethos underpin the resort. The developers have aligned themselves with the Born Free Foundation, and support local marine conservation initiatives. Eco homes portal http://www.whatgreenhome.com/ has awarded Medina Palms an excellent kite mark.

Mr Rowley said: “It is our responsibility to preserve the environment for future generations, and we aim to ensure to ensure we do all we can not to spoil what is a simply a beautiful place.”

The eco initiatives being undertaken include energy from renewable sources includes solar hot water and a wind turbine is proposed. LED lighting for communal buildings, gardens and walkways will be installed.

Water conservation is practised through dual flush WCs and the installation of Two Bio Digesters will minimise water consumption and generate water for irrigation purposes. Recycling facilities are provided in each home.

Eco chic would best describe Medina Palms' visual style. Mr Rowley describes the design aesthetic, created by his wife and business partner, Lesley, as contemporary Swahili. Inspired by the nearby ancient ruined village of Gede, the look is a fusion of Arabic arches and African colonial. The result is a sumptuous and stylish blend of cultures.

James Price, a partner at Knight Frank, said: “Lifestyle is the key driver to Medina Palms appeal, but the investment aspect is a very attractive one too.”

Average gross rental yields of 15% (net average around 9-10%) are forecast, based on a 42-week rental season, which is almost double that in European destinations. Owners looking to let their property will be required to join a rental pool.

Resale potential to realise a capital gain down the track is predicted to be good medium to long term. There is little in the way of competition locally to Medina Palms.

Mr and Mrs Rowley, the developers, have built their own home nearby – in the same style as the properties at Medina Palms (it is currently the ‘show home’), which Mr Rowley said has doubled in value in the last two years.

The investment potential is underscored by an improving local infrastructure, and the increasing prosperity of Kenyans. International air communications to Nairobi and Mombassa are good with daily flights from the UK.

Financing terms are favourable to the buyer: 5% down as a deposit, followed by several stage payments over the 24-month build out. All monies are held in ESCROW until the resort’s completion.

An early purchase discount in the region of 10% is offered to those buying before the end of November. For more information, visit http://www.whatgreenhome.com/africa_page1.html#medinapalms

The greening of Spain

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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Spain's housing boom of the last two decades has been notoriously high rise and high blown. In the middle years of the noughties around 750,000 homes were being built annually – most of them constructed from high embodied energy concrete and with little regard for water conservation or energy provision from renewable sources.

Times, however, they are a changing.

Legislation recently passed calls for all new homes to be built with a solar thermal (for hot water) capacity. On a recent visit to Spain’s Costa Blanca – inland and coastal – one can hardly miss the banks of solar arrays (photovoltaic for electricity generation) dotting the fields, and banks of wind turbines patrolling the hills.

Spain aspires to produce 12% of its energy from renewable sources by 2010. In 2006, according to Eurostat, the country produced 4% from renewables. Sweden leads Europe’s way with fully 15% of its total energy consumption being produced from renewables.

(Lamentably, the UK produces only 2% of its total from renewables presently. It has committed to deliver 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Analysts says Britain will fall well short of its target, and will do well to reach 10% by 2020.)

Indications of housebuilders in Spain meeting and even exceeding the new energy provision regulations are becoming visible. At Gran Monovar, 40 minutes inland from Alicante, on the Costa Blanca, the new homes under construction not only meet the new solar thermal legal requirements, but also are being built to reduce energy requirements.

The homes are orientated to maximise natural cooling and built to a double thickness with adobe bricks to minimise passive solar gain. Natural Rockwool insulation between the bricks ensures an ambient internal temperature without the requirement of energy hungry air-conditioning. Timber used is from sustainable forestry and has a chain of custody certification.

For a more detailed review of Gran Monovar’s environmental credentials visit independent eco homes and sustainable development portal whatgreenhome.com and specifically http://www.whatgreenhome.com/western_europe_page3.html#granmonovar

The properties are no more expensive than ‘plain vanilla’ homes on the Costa Blanca. Prices start from €95,000 for a one-bedroom top floor apartment with terrace. Three-bedroom, two-bathroom villas start from €240,000.

Nearby, Las Torrentas is a second eco-resort where development of 135 contemporary villas is expected to commence in spring 2009. Located inland in Murcia at Calasparra, Las Torrentas is being conceived as a sustainable community with onsite generation of power from renewables – geothermal and hydrostatic power from a mill in the grounds – providing around 80% of energy requirements.

The chic homes – the single storey modernist pavilion style Terazza particularly appeals – are being built with largely local and sustainable materials. Floors will be laid from locally manufactured terracotta tiling; timber is locally sourced from certified sustainable forests.

The developers are innovating with electric cars too. Two electric ‘pool’ cars will be provided for owners’ use, and three free of charge solar powered charging bays will be provided for the community cars and owners’ electric/hybrid cars.

Prices start from €278,000 for a three-bedroom house. For more information on Las Torrentas visit whatgreenhome.com and http://www.whatgreenhome.com/western_europe_page2.html#lastorrentas

France leads green race

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Thursday, November 06, 2008

The upshot of the environmental legislation is some of the lowest carbon emission homes in Europe. (Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands are also particularly strident in ensuring new homes meet minimum thermal emission standards. The UK is playing catchup.) A new development just released on to the market – Annecy-le-Vieux, a five-minute walk from the centre of the lakeside town of Annecy in the Haute Savoie region – promises to take insulation values to a new level.

The developer, MGM, says that for the past 20 years it has insulated the external walls of the homes it builds – despite the fact that, in France, this became a legal requirement only last year – and the levels of both thermal and acoustic insulation [in its properties] exceed the standards demanded by French building standards.

Nathalie Turchet, MGM’s London-based UK sales manager said: "Annecy-le-Vieux will be a state-of-the-art development in terms of sustainability and fuel economy.”

Particularly commendable is the company's investment in geothermal heat pumps to utilise energy from beneath the earth to heat the homes. Other eco-features being adopted include flow regulators on taps to conserve water use, and lighting activated by movement detector and low-energy light bulbs in communal areas. The latter initaitve at least is a no brainer, surely, in this day and age.

MGM are far from being alone in France in their adoption of environmental principles. Other developers in France have taken sustainability issues to a higher level. Check out P&V's commendable Bois de Harcholins resort in eastern France http://www.whatgreenhome.com/western_europe_page3.html#harcholins, or the excellent Lodge St Germain in the Languedoc at http://www.whatgreenhome.com/western_europe_page1.html#lodgestgermain, or particularly apt as we head into the ski season, Le Clos de la Croix Blanche in Chamonix at http://www.whatgreenhome.com/western_europe_page3.html#croixblanche

Amber light for eco-towns

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Wednesday, November 05, 2008

A second round of consultation on the Government"s proposed eco-towns will be open until 19 February 2009. As part of the consultation a new website has been launched http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/campaigns/ecotowns/DG_171848 to both explain the eco-town"s concept and standards, and to invite comments and ideas.

No one would who cares about the future of the planet and our quality of life would argue that the Government-promoted eco-towns are not needed, but it’s important to know that there are thousands of low carbon, and energy and water efficient homes across the country that have already been built or that are under construction. Examples of these sustainable homes for sale in England, with prices starting from as little a £59,000, as well as abroad, can be seen at http://www.whatgreenhome.com

Sustainable homes

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