DYK Newsletter Winter 2009

DID YOU KNOW?

WINTER 2009

THE CALFORDSEADEN NEWSLETTER

WINNER: BRITISH HOMES AWARD Hillside Hub, Harlesden has recently been announced as the winner of the British Homes Awards 'Mixed-Use Regeneration Development of the Year'. . .

ALSO INSIDE . . .

REMEMBERING THE PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT The guidelines of the Project Management Triangle

EMMAUS HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITY Charity creates “live work community” for homeless people

THEATRE RESOURCE ARTS CENTRE New residential arts centre for disabled and socially disadvantaged people

PRIMARY CARE TRUST ASSESSMENTS The NHS “Six Facet” criteria approach

AN EDUCATION IN SURVEYS Surveys of one of the UK’s largest education estates completed

SUSTAINABLE URBAN DRAINAGE SYSTEMS Investigating the available options

CONTENTS REMEMBERING THE PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT The guidelines of the Project Management Triangle Pages 2-3

PLANNED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SERVICES calfordseaden develops bespoke software

AN EDUCATION IN SURVEYS Surveys of one of the UK’s largest education estates completed Page 13

ABBEY COURT STORRINGTON A scheme committed to addressing climate change Page 14

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SUSTAINABLE URBAN DRAINAGE SYSTEMS HILLSIDE HUB WINS BRITISH HOMES AWARD Mixed-Use Regeneration Development of the year

Investigating the options available to us Pages 15-16

Pages 5-6

EMMAUS HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITY Charity creates “live work community” for homeless people

WORKING THROUGH THE PROPERTY CYCLE WITH CALYX UK LTD An example of “Whole Life Service” Page 17

Pages 7-8

BUILDING FOR LIFE THEATRE RESOURCE ARTS CENTRE

Explaining the criteria for a Building for Life Assessment

New residential arts centre for disabled and socially disadvantaged people

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Pages 9-10

PROPOSED CHANGES TO PART L - 2010 PRIMARY CARE TRUST ASSESSMENTS The NHS “Six Facet” criteria approach Page 11

ROYAL BERKSHIRE COURT This sheltered housing scheme gets underway in Didcot, Oxfordshire

2010 sees proposed changes to Part L of the Building Regulations Page 18

ALL ARTICLES ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE: WWW.CALFORDSEADEN.CO.UK

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FSC Certified Product - Credit Material Manufactured at a paper mill which is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and FSC Certified. Chlorine Free.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) FSC is an International, non-profit association which promotes responsible forestry through an independent forest certification and product labelling system. The Independent Assurance for Responsible Forest Management.

REMEMBERING THE PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT Keeping a project within budget and delivering quality within a specified time is often easier said than done. Terry Bartholomew explains how following the guidelines of the Project Management Triangle can help achieve this difficult task.

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rojects by their nature do not always run to plan and in this current economic climate are coming under attack like never before due to a number of reasons including: Broader marketplaces; Development and testing times are longer due to statutory compliance issues; Increasing numbers of stakeholders, providing further complexities to project agreements; Overstated benefits; Cost and time constraints.

At such times it is worth reviewing the parameters key to undertaking and delivering successful projects or programmes. These are more commonly known as: Cost; Scope (Quality) and; Time (Schedule).

Together generally referred to as the Project Management Triangle.

It is widely held thinking that the key to successful Project Management is keeping these three issues synchronised, as it is felt that one side of the triangle cannot be changed without adversely affecting the others, therefore requiring all to be kept under constant review and in check.

Dealing firstly with Scope, in the construction sphere, the handover of completed projects should bring about no surprises as to the quality/scope being achieved, and at the outset of a project quality/scope needs to be specifically defined to ensure that end results (benefits) are identified.

The project manager must not allow quality drivers to be compromised by cost or time issues (for example overspends or delays), such that, to bring cost and time back under control, quality is compromised.

Costs must be kept under review throughout the project life cycle from initial cost estimate stage through to post completion project review and at subsequent cost estimate stages, as there is often very little information available on which to base budget decisions, assumptions need to be made which must be turned into later decisions.

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REMEMBERING THE PRINCIPLES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT continued . . .

It is essential we ensure that at all stages of cost estimate/review the stakeholders are fully aware of the content of the estimate and crucially what is excluded, together with the sub-division of costs and risks.

The Time required to produce a project outcome must be properly estimated and include an assessment of the accumulative effects of each work task as it is rolled up into a final overall estimate of time. The project manager’s skills need to ensure that critical path analysis is applied to key activities to ensure: Prioritisation; Identify dependency between tasks; Forward and long stop planning etcetera.

In summary, always seek to keep the Project Management Triangle in mind when reviewing a project, make sure that you adequately identify expectations and turn assumptions into decisions, being clear about quality/scope right from the outset.

Be realistic with cost estimates at both project review and project life cycle stages and provide adequate time resource and scheduling to projects ensuring that quality and cost parameters can be achieved.

This is an abridged version of a paper prepared

by Terry Bartholomew DipSurv MRICS MAPM which can be found on our website.

For further information contact: Terry Bartholomew at our London office T 020 7940 3200 E tbartholomew@calfordseaden.co.uk

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www.calfordseaden.co.uk

PLANNED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SERVICES The Practice has been successful in securing and delivering a number of Planned Preventative Maintenance Surveys on Property Portfolios for Public and Private Sector Clients alike, and have developed bespoke software tailored to Clients’ particular requirements to enable data to be captured and interpreted in an agreed format.

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ecently completed instructions include a large portfolio survey in Mayfair, London W1 on behalf of Clients of GVA Saxon Law Management, this extending to over 45 premises in total, various B1 offices on sites owned

by Watson Wyatt, Consulting Actuaries and the Whitechapel Portfolio of Barts and the London Charity.

One of the many advantages of having a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedule is that it can ensure that routine maintenance is undertaken to smooth out the peaks and troughs in the annual maintenance cost cycle. This in turn ensures that the asset value of the building is maintained or enhanced. At the outset of an instruction, we seek to tailor the Planned Preventative Maintenance Survey and format to Client particular needs to suit presentation of the end results and to enable maximum use to be gained from the information obtained.

Works can be broken down into elements of fabric and structure, mechanical, electrical and lift services, etc., and prioritised/ budgeted accordingly to enable forward forecasting of preventative maintenance and to inform Business Plans with regards to capital expenditure.

This service has been developed by the Building Surveyors within our four regional offices to run on normal computer software. They will be pleased to provide examples of works previously completed and to discuss with potential users the benefits of adopting a bespoke approach to Portfolio Management.

For further information contact: Terry Bartholomew Partner (London) T 020 7940 3200 E tbartholomew@calfordseaden.co.uk Ashley Harper Partner (Birmingham) T 0121 454 1688 E aharper@calfordseaden.co.uk

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HILLSIDE HUB WINS BRITISH HOMES AWARD Hillside Hub, Harlesden has recently been announced as the winner of the British Homes Awards 'Mixed-Use Regeneration Development of the Year'. calfordseaden acted as the employer's agent, quantity surveyor, CDM coordinator and EcoHomes assessor on behalf of Hillside Housing Trust (part of the Hyde Group) on this award winning scheme. The completed development is a landmark building and forms part of the final phase of a 14-year regeneration programme.

Known locally as ‘The Hub', the completed development provides a new primary care centre, a community centre & coffee shop, a supermarket and residential apartments. The building was designed to richly resource the local community, providing a high quality vibrant facility in the heart of the community. calfordseaden were an integral part of the project team from the outset, including extensive liaison with the considerable number of stakeholders involved in the project to ensure the development met the community's needs. The community centre consists of an art workshop, IT training suite, distinctive glue-lam curved community hall, multi-purpose room with dance floor, meeting rooms and office facilities. The spacious reception area of the community centre links via the coffee shop into the primary care centre. The use of high quality materials and attention to detail both externally and internally provides a landmark building that the community can be proud of.

For more information please contact: Jo Parody at our Orpington office T 01689 888222 E jparody@calfordseaden.co.uk

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EMMAUS HAMPSHIRE COMMUNITY Our Winchester office has been appointed as employer’s agent and CDM co-ordinator on this exciting project for the charitable foundation Emmaus Hampshire Community, Bar End in Winchester, part of the Emmaus UK Federation. The Federation is a well known and respected charitable trust, whose patron is the HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and supported by Terry Waite and the late Dame Anita Roddick.

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he project involved developing a site put forward

by Hampshire County Council for the Charity to use to form a new “live work community” for homeless people. Emmaus UK Federation’s work is aimed at engaging, educating and empowering people to live independently within their wider community by offering homeless men and women a home and a place to work.

Companions, as residents are known, are given the support they need to enable them to regain control over their own lives and to help those less fortunate than themselves.

The completed scheme comprises residential, workshop and retail areas set in a bio-diverse landscape on a one-acre brown field site in Bar End, Winchester.

The scope of works incorporated a 26 bedroomed twostorey residential block with communal facilities including kitchen, laundry, storage, bathroom and office accommodation. A retail shop space incorporating food servery and coffee shop has also been provided.

Additionally, the completed scheme also includes a two-storey workshop facility, with open plan workspace areas and individual office and training rooms, The community’s business activities are centered on a furniture repair and recycling facility, and the sale of second hand goods received by donation. The sale of goods provides the community with the revenue to eventually become self-sufficient. calfordseaden were appointed as employer’s agent and CDM coordinator on this unique project, funded by Emmaus

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Hampshire charitable donations, sponsorship and through Social Housing Grant via collaboration with A2Dominion Group. The project management was a challenging and worthwhile exercise, which saw the need for close liaison with clients, other consultants, contractors and third parties in order to steer the scheme to a successful conclusion.

The Emmaus Hampshire ‘Green Roof’ Community team worked tirelessly for approximately eight years to see the project realised. The attractively designed building was built at a cost of £2.6 million using environmentally sound techniques and achieved a BREEAM Excellent Rating standard of construction by focusing on a well insulated and sustainable building, using locally sourced materials wherever possible. The building featured technologies to lower its carbon footprint as much as is practicable through passive sustainable features, including maximizing natural light, provision of a sedum roof, and solar panels for hot water. The new facility was boosted by the fact that Emmaus Hampshire was successful in their quest to secure "Partnership Status" with IKEA, who support a local charity when they open a new store in the surrounding area.

For more information please contact: Neil Callum at our Winchester office T 01962 718300 E ncallum@calfordseaden.co.uk

The project was completed on time and on budget with a launch opening by the President of Emmaus, Terry Waite. It is hoped the successful partnership struck with the client team, designers, contractor and calfordseaden can be replicated on a similar scheme initiative in Southampton.

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THEATRE RESOURCE ARTS CENTRE

calfordseaden are involved in the creation of a new residential arts centre for disabled & socially disadvantaged people. This national centre is the very first of its kind based around an existing facility in Ongar, Essex.

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Currently the Arts Centre, which is operated by Theatre Resource, a private charity, runs theatre workshops, arts & crafts training, computer skills and other facilities with a large part of the work involving outreach.

he proposed development will create 25 units of accommodation for overnight stay, equivalent to student accommodation but to a higher specification and incorporating the latest in accessible design; a new block of nine flats that will be run by East Thames Group, a new all purpose community hall that will provide full theatre and studio facilities and several teaching rooms and offices formed within the existing building and the new part.

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There will also be training facilities created for catering and service management with products being made available for sale within the central exhibition area created within the old main hall. calfordseaden were asked to advise Theatre Resource after the project had received planning approval and tender invitations had been issued. As a result, we have now been engaged as client representative, clerk of works, building surveying advisor, CDM coordinator and sustainability advisor.

In addition, following the selection of Hill Partnerships as preferred constructor, calfordseaden have been appointed as mechanical & electrical consultant by Hill Partnerships to facilitate the selection of renewable technologies and integration of the high-end requirements for accessibility.

Our involvement in giving sustainability advice to the Theatre Resource team has, in part, helped them to achieve additional European grant funding for long term educational activities based around the ‘Green Theatre’ approach and the development of environmental services used to educate and build new jobs for their user groups.

For more information please contact: Peter Defoe at our Orpington office T 01689 888222 E pdefoe@calfordseaden.co.uk

Images courtesy, Theatre Resource

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he Birmingham office of calfordseaden has recently been appointed by a Midlands based Primary Care Trust to carry out assessments of all their existing GP facilities. This work is being carried out as part of a wider Estates Nationalisation Programme. The survey exercise involved the inspection of over 70 GP Surgeries and utilised the standard NHS “Six Facet” Assessment Criteria. This survey exercise has now been expanded to cover larger Primary Care health facilities.

Primary Care Trust

Assessments The “Six Facet” approach looks not only at the physical condition of buildings and GP facilities, but also at their suitability for purpose, location, accessibility for all, their general quality and their performance in terms of environmental criteria. This survey format enables NHS Trusts to examine all premises where services are provided to patients in their care, to ensure that facilities are fit for purpose and to highlight areas where investment is required. This is particularly important when there are a wide range of premises providing health care, involving buildings of differing ages and designs, and where sites may be tightly constrained.

Similar commissions have been undertaken by our Orpington office for an NHS Trust in the South East.

For further information contact: Ashley Harper at our Birmingham office T 0121 454 1688 E aharper@calfordseaden.co.uk

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Royal Berkshire Court Didcot, Oxfordshire Our architects have designed this affordable housing scheme, which will be constructed using thin-bed block work and will include sustainable permeable paving and photovoltaics.

This brownfield development on the site of a former outdated sheltered housing scheme is situated in Didcot, Oxfordshire, famous for its power station chimneys. The site is situated on the edge of the town and adjacent to an old redundant railway line and an allotment.

The scheme includes 25 new affordable houses and six flats designed around a cul-de-sac.

Planning permission for the development was received in December 2008 after our in-house planning consultants and architects held successful pre-consultation discussions with the Local Planning Authority.

Working on behalf of A2Dominion Group, our employer’s agent tendered this scheme under a Design and Build contract, with Wates Construction Limited winning the competitive tender.

Subsequently, calfordseaden have been commissioned by Wates as architect, civil & structural engineer, Code for Sustainable Homes assessor and CDM coordinator (through calfordseaden health & safety) on this scheme, which is due to be completed during Spring 2010.

For further information contact: John Spence at our Orpington office T 01689 888222 E jspence@calfordseaden.co.uk

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STOP PRESS calfordseaden architects’ granted Planning Permission for Hayes School, Bromley

AN EDUCATION IN SURVEYS We are pleased to announce that we have recently, successfully completed surveys of the entire portfolio of School sites managed by Birmingham City Council, one of the largest education estates in the UK. It has now been some 18 months since we embarked on this exercise, working closely with the Children, Young People and Families and Urban Design Departments. Over this period, our team of building surveyors have undertaken full Condition Surveys of the portfolio which includes 427 sites. The portfolio comprises buildings of differing construction forms from varying periods, including traditional Victorian schools, “CLASP” system-built structures from the 1960’s and 70’s through to contemporary buildings utilising modern methods of construction. In all, our team have surveyed more than 15 million square feet of accommodation, carrying out a detailed assessment of the condition of each property together with defects diagnosis, in order to provide information for incorporation into the Council’s Asset Management Strategy. Additionally, our surveyors collected and verified spacial information as part of a re-evaluation of measured survey information previously undertaken by others.

Whilst the survey exercise itself was undertaken utilising traditional surveying methodology, the resulting information has been analysed, collated and entered into a bespoke Asset Management system, known as “Technology Forge”.

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This software is widely used by other Education Authorities, utilising an Intranet based platform.

The output data can be utilised for future Asset Management planning, budgeting, investigation works and also allows the client the opportunity to assemble an accurate Asset Register. calfordseaden provided all building surveying expertise, working closely in conjunction with mechanical & electrical engineers provided by Birmingham City Council. We believe this is an excellent example of true partnership working closely together with all organisations in the interest of successful project delivery.

Early issues for resolution included IT conflicts and inconsistent access arrangements. By working closely together, we were able to resolve these problems quickly, ensuring that the project was delivered to the highest standard, within budget and two weeks earlier than the agreed target completion date.

This could only have been achieved through the supportive relationship between the two organisations, which is continuing into a further commission to undertake similar surveys of the corporate portfolio owned by the Council.

For further information contact: Neil Hebberts at our Birmingham office T 0121 454 1688 E nhebberts@calfordseaden.co.uk

ABBEY COURT, STORRINGTON Commended for its high level of sustainability, Abbey Court in Storrington, West Sussex demonstrates Horsham District Council’s commitment to addressing climate change and provides affordable housing for local people. calfordseaden’s multidisciplined design and project team, together with Horsham District Council and Westridge Construction Limited, were fully focused in delivering this scheme to meet high environmental standards. We were appointed by the District Council as their architect, town planner, employer’s agent, sustainability advisor, code assessor, and CDM coordinator (through calfordseaden health & safety).

Abbey Court is a new two-storey, detached supported housing development of eight flats designed to Level 4 in accordance with the Code for Sustainable Homes. Completed in July 2009, the development has been designed based on a passive construction and renewable technology energy strategy. The building’s high level of sustainability has been achieved both passively, with high levels of insulation, and actively through solar thermal water heating, photovoltaics, rainwater harvesting, water-saving devices and energy efficient lighting. Furthermore, the project team have worked to ensure that the materials used in the building’s construction have been obtained from sustainable sources.

Commenting on the completed scheme a Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Development said:

is the first housing development in “This Horsham District that has been built to such a high level of sustainability, and shows the Councilʼs commitment to help address the problem of climate change.

It sets new standards for affordable housing in the District. Each of the flats provides a lovely home for those who have nowhere else to live.

The energy costs will be much lower, and these new homes will substantially increase the quality of life for those who have moved in”.

For further information contact: James Amos Town Planner

Terry Keech Sustainability Adviser

Jacqui Clarke Code Assessor

Angela Lemon Employer’s Agent

Jojo Ekuban CDM co-ordinator

Christopher Rainsford Architect

T 01689 888222 E initialsurname@calfordseaden.co.uk

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Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, or SUDS for short, has become something of a buzz phrase in the construction industry over the past four or five years. Richard Newman explains more.

But what is it all about, and why has it become so important for clients, developers and their professional teams to understand and embrace? hatever the root cause, we are experiencing noticeable change in our weather patterns in the UK. When it rains, we often experience higher intensities of precipitation and for greater duration than hitherto. In these circumstances, our surface water drainage networks, which have generally stood us in good stead, can frequently become overloaded and significant flooding may result, to which the residents of Sheffield and Hull can bear witness. As the incident rate for storms of this type increases, the risk of flooding becomes even more significant. Ironically, despite these bigger storms, the longer hot dry summers predicted also mean that we could become short of drinking water, particularly in the southeast of England.

Clearly these major issues need to be addressed.

At a strategic level, civil engineers are working with government to devise flood management strategies and to examine ways to capture the rainfall that we are blessed with, so that it may be directed or stored for our benefit.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) is a very effective approach to addressing these issues at a local level. The basic principle is to replicate, as closely as possible, the natural drainage from the site before development.

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The objectives are to minimise the impact from the development on the quantity and quality of runoff and to maximise amenity and bio-diversity opportunities.

In practical terms, this means that conventional piped drainage solutions are being modified or substituted by alternatively engineered solutions.

These vary in type depending on the existing ground conditions, history of development, etc.

Where the ground is permeable, it is possible to construct roads using permeable pavements, which allow rainwater to collect in a drainage blanket and slowly percolate into the ground. In appropriate conditions it is also possible to collect the discharge from roof drainage and drain this into the same blanket. This has the advantage of dealing with the drainage on site, avoids taking water into the surrounding pipe network, and recharges the underlying aquifer directly. Enlightened local authorities are now adopting roads of this type.

A major principle behind most SUDS schemes is the reduction or attenuation of flows. Thus where direct infiltration is impractical or not permitted, other SUDS tools in

the civil engineer’s armoury can be employed. These generally involve some form of storage, either above or below ground, depending on the land available and the degree of bio-diversity intended.

These include: Simple water butts, where water can be stored for irrigation purposes; Swales, which are basically wide open channels used to hold water (or allow some direct infiltration) prior discharge to a watercourse; Buried tank type structures; Roof storage: green roofs can provide some attenuation; Infiltration Basins: basically an open soak-away; Retention and Detention Basins: essentially variations on the swale, for holding water and allowing some permeation; Paved surface flooding: using car parks to store flood water; Wetlands and Reed-beds: a system of shallow pools that hold water and remove pollutants whilst enhancing the overall bio-diversity of the neighbourhood.

Currently calfordseaden’s civil and structural engineering group are undertaking the design of a number of schemes where the above principles are being utilised.

In Oxfordshire, we are undertaking the design of a new housing estate where the roads are of permeable block paving. The roof drainage is also collected and discharges through silt traps into the same drainage blanket. The design has been approved by the local authority and has been accepted for Adoption.

There can be little doubt that these design principles will become the norm in the years to come, and calfordseaden are well placed to advise clients on the most appropriate solution for their particular development.

For more information please contact: Richard Newman at our Orpington office T 01689 888222 E rnewman@calfordseaden.co.uk

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WORKING THROUGH THE PROPERTY CYCLE WITH CALYX UK LTD In recent years, and supplemented by the addition of further technical disciplines within the Practice, our building surveyors have striven to provide a “whole life service” to clients covering various roles through identification, acquisition, design, fit-out, occupation and subsequent disposal of property assets.

Throughout 2008 we were fortunate to be engaged

by Calyx (UK) Ltd on a number of key property matters forming part of a portfolio rationalisation.

Initially, we were instructed to inspect and report upon proposed new premises in Arlington for the firm and in conjunction with our mechanical and electrical services engineers. We provided a detailed acquisition report covering the new premises which extended to liaison with the landlord’s advisors in connection with defects, warranty issues and the like. Simultaneously, we dealt with the vacating of their current Stevenage premises that were subject to an onerous Option To Determine lease clause.

Working with Innovate Space Ltd, we were able to devise a programme to enable Calyx to remain in and operate from their former premises until the very last moment, as we undertook dilapidations and reinstatement work around them and facilitated their move into newly completed premises nearby.

Later in the year, we again put our acquisition skills to use with the survey, inspection and reporting on bespoke Category A office premises in Didsbury, Manchester and warehouse/workshop facilities in Hyde, Manchester both to replace their existing facilities on the Ringway Trading Estate, Wythenshawe, close to Manchester Airport and where lease expiry was imminent.

Working closely with ADT Workplace and Calyx’s programme manager, we assisted with Landlord issues relating to both acquisitions, assisted with the development of proposals for the refurbishment and fitting out of premises, negotiated contracts and provided Project Management services for the fitting out and subsequent occupation of both units.

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Once again, the tight programme left very little scope for dilapidations work to the Wythenshawe premises, but we were able to formulate a programme with ADT Workplace to enable Calyx to move out as late as possible into new premises, but to provide 24/7 coverage to works of stripping out, reinstatement, etcetera, on the former premises enabling the lease to come to an end.

In August 2008, we provided contract administration and CDM services for the refurbishment of former Calyx premises at Bermondsey, South London to allow the assignment of this surplus space to the London Ambulance Service.

Calyx was advised by property consultancy Maxwell Brown in relation to site finding, heads of terms and acquisition.

We continue to strive to obtain portfolio instructions such as these where our “whole life service” skills can be brought to the fore.

For further information contact: Terry Bartholomew at our London office T 020 7940 3200 E tbartholomew@calfordseaden.co.uk

PROPOSED CHANGES TO PART L - 2010

BUILDING

FOR LIFE

James Amos, calfordseaden’s in-house planning consultant, explains the criteria for a Building for Life Assessment. questions which form T hethetwenty Building for Life Assessment are intended to stimulate all parties involved in housing development to produce better designs. The process is intended to be qualitative where the system it replaces – the Scheme Development Standards – was fundamentally quantitative. It replaces a box–ticking exercise with one which should ultimately change development culture towards considered solutions and high level design in terms of 'attractiveness, functionality and sustainability.' The sponsors, CABE and the Home Builders Federation, are confident that using the Assessment effectively will bring about: Improvements to well–being and quality of life; Benefits to public health; Increasing property values; Reductions in crime levels.

calfordseaden have various scheme’s featured on the Building for Life website:

The twenty questions can guide development briefs, establish a format for planning approvals and allow a comparative review of the design.

Building for Life is also embodied within the Housing Quality Indicator (HQI) process and a pass mark of 12 (in certain cases 10) is the base level requirement. A score of 14 may result in a silver Building for Life award and 16 can lead to a gold award. calfordseaden provide assessments at feasibility stage and completion, required by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) as a part of the HQI review. We also undertake an intermediate review as recommended by HCA during the detail design stage. As a part of our assessment, we always supplement the basic score with a commentary aimed at identifying areas of design that need development and those elements which are strong and should be retained – the regime assessments can thereby enable an incremental improvement in design quality, which is capable of being tracked and reviewed.

For more information please contact:

www.BUILDING

FORLIFE.org

James Amos at our Orpington office T 01689 888222 E jamos@calfordseaden.co.uk

2010 sees proposed changes to Part L of the Building regulations. After the radical changes made to the Building regulations in April 2006, it was apparent that some aspects were not working. Key changes proposed are: A 25% aggregate reduction in CO2 emissions will be required for all buildings compared with 2006 levels; All design stage submissions to building control will need to be accompanied by a specification; A fuel based TER will be introduced to help to improve energy efficiency; Emissions from electric heating systems will be capped at the same rate as for oil heating; The accuracy of SAP calculations will be improved by moving from an annual to a monthly calculation thus taking into account the effect of monthly variations in the weather on the building such as solar gain; The benefits of thermal mass are taken into account in the winter and the summer. Currently the tool allows for the cooling effect of thermal mass in the summer but doesn’t allow for reduced heating demand in winter when solar gain heats up the thermal mass of the building; Designers will have to submit commissioning plans to building control at the start of a project; The energy efficiency of pumps will be included in the Building Regulations for the first time; Compliance guides for domestic heating and for heating and cooling will be beefed up and renamed building services compliance guides; The government will publish accredited construction details to cover elements such as heat loss caused by thermal bridging; The 25% improvement in energy efficiency for non-domestic buildings will be an aggregate value for all new buildings; Under the changes to part L, buildings will become more airtight so that government is also proposing changes to part F of the Building Regulations to ensure homes are adequately ventilated.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS GO TO: http://www.calfordseaden.co.uk/ proposedchanges_partl

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Winter 2009

calfordseaden St John’s House 1a Knoll Rise Orpington Kent BR6 0JX T 01689 888222 F 01689 888299

CHARITABLE DONATIONS This year in lieu of sending Christmas cards calfordseaden will be making donations to charity. The Partners and Directors would like to wish all of our clients, suppliers and colleagues a happy and prosperous new year in 2010.

CHARTERED SURVEYING PROJECT MANAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE & MASTER PLANNING CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SUSTAINABILITY ADVICE HEALTH & SAFETY CONSULTANCY

www.calfordseaden.co.uk calfordseaden have taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that did you know? is correct at the time of publication. Please contact us for more information about any of the topics and, where our professional code of conduct allows, we will be happy to advise. calfordseaden LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership Registered in England and Wales number OC315838. Registered Office: Devonshire House, 60 Goswell Road, London EC1M 7AD where a list of members is kept.