last updated 3rd February 06
by 4 ecotips.com

Early planning and partnership working the keys to success

As from April 2006 all new build housing association homes will have to meet what's called the EcoHomes "Very Good Standard". Details are set out in a guidance on sustainable design and build published this week by Sustainable Homes.

In his forward to the new publication the UK Housing Corporation's chief executive, Jon Rouse, says that early planning and committed partnership working, backed by a detailed design brief and a robust supply chain, are the keys to achieving the EcoHomes Very Good rating.

Achieving the Very Good rating will be demanding for housing associations and developers, warns Mr Rouse, particularly against a background of increased cost efficiency.

The Very Good Standard will be a requirement from April for all homes funded by the Housing Corporation National Affordable Housing Programme 2006-08. In addition, the government will require the Code for Sustainable Homes from April 2006 for all publicly funded homes. EcoHomes Very Good will approximately equate to the three star rating of the Code, and for a transitional period, EcoHomes will be deemed to comply with the Code.

The rewards of EcoHomes are spelled out in the guidance: a better quality of life for now and future generations and a reduction in the environmental impacts of the construction and use of new homes, particularly through reducing C02 emissions and their effect on climate change.

The guidance, EcoHomes: Achieving Very Good, provides:

• Advice on achieving the Very Good rating
• Indicative cost information on the uplift from the Good to Very Good rating
• Examples of good practice from urban and rural housing associations who have achieved the Very Good and, in some cases, the Excellent EcoHomes rating for their housing schemes.

More information from info@sustainablehomes.co.uk