CSH mandatory for all new homes from May 1st
From: Planning magazine, Issue 1758 29th February 2008The code for sustainable homes will be mandatory for all new homes from 1 May 2008, the government announced this week.
The code measures nine categories of sustainable design including energy, water and waste, with homes given ratings up to six stars. Until now, it has only been enforced for public sector housing projects. Housing and planning minister Caroline Flint made the announcement at the recent Ecobuild event. “Providing these ratings will also give buyers valuable information about their homes, allowing them to make an informed choice and helping them reduce their household emissions,” she said.UK Green Building Council chief executive Paul King welcomed the move. He said: “We still have challenges to overcome to bring sustainable homes into the mainstream, especially in existing stock. But this represents a vitally important step.”
It is standard practice at AMA to check with clients before a Phase 1 habitat survey commences, to ensure that if BREEAM-type assessment is required, then the baseline surevy methodology is modified accordingly.