Cambridge Architecture CA86 by Cambridge Association of Architects

86 Cambridge Architecture

Autumn/Winter 2023

High and dry

CA86_01, 44 Cover and spine 2.5mm.indd 42

Cambridge future

Looking at city expansion: the water scarcity issue, and potential solutions

Industry analysis The Building Safety Act, biodiversity net gain, and youth engagement

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Contents

12 18

Contents 4-5 News

Changes at the CAA; Clare College room; urban room latest; awards shortlist; plus events diary

7 A collective responsibility

A letter from the new CAA chair Patrick Usborne

8-9 Under pressure

Tackling the East’s lack of water... JJ Watters explains the challenges facing construction

10-11 Should we be scared?

Hoare Lea examines what can be done about water scarcity

12-13 Facing the future

ChatGPT and Bing Image Creator have the answers?

21 Risky business

Colin Jones, of HCR Hewitsons, explores the subject of insolvency – and what to look out for

22-23 It’s a YES from the children

A youth engagement framework has given hundreds of schoolchildren the chance to get creative

25 Sustainable sound

Adrian Popplewell shares his tips on how to design out intrusive mechanical noise

26-27 A place in the making

What will be the impact and process of meeting new biodiversity net gain targets?

As our partnership sets up the city’s new urban room, we invite CAA members to get involved via a special competition

15-17 Supercharged city

28-29 All change again

18-19 Reinventing Cambridge

30-31 Work in progress

February Phillips considers the practical implications of expanding Cambridge for 250,000 extra homes

We task AI with designing our new city – will

A rundown on the basics of the new Building Regulations duty holder regime

Cambridge Architecture is a review produced by the Cambridge Association of Architects, the local branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The views in this magazine are those of individual contributors (named and unnamed), and not of the Association. ISSN 1361-3375 Any comments or for a copy of the magazine, contact editors@cambridgearchitects.org EDITORS David Adams, Tom Foggin, Susie Lober, Susie Newman ADVERTISEMENT SALES Marie Luise Critchley-Waring (advertising@cambridgearchitects.org) Published by CPL One www.cplone.co.uk

Cover Photo: © Richard Fraser Photography A bridge over a swale in Eddington, Cambridge.

A spotlight on projects by Chartered Practices

The CAA thanks the following sponsors AC Architects Cambridge Ltd Archangel Architects Ashley Courtney RIBA AABC Bassett Architects BCR Infinity Architects Borough Architects Cowper Griffith Architects Frank Shaw Associates Freeland Rees Roberts Gary Johns Architects George Davidson Architect

Cambridge Architecture

Graham Handley Architects Harvey Norman Architects Ingleton Wood Karen Rainsford Architect Mart Barrass Architect Ltd MCW Architects Mole Architects NP Architects Peter Rawlings Architects Ltd R H Partnership Architects Ltd The Architect Studio

CA86 was made possible by generous grants from the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry and the RIBA Local Initiative Fund Specification sponsor

Technology sponsor

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Welcome and news

News Changes at the CAA The CAA has several new committee members, including new chair Patrick Usborne, of Perpendicular Architecture, who has taken over the mantle from outgoing chair Anastasia Orphanidou of 5th Studio. Patrick is joined by Risa Nagasaki, of Ingleton Wood, as our new communications lead, and Margherita Cesca Nelder-Haynes, as events coordinator. The CAA is delighted to welcome its newest members, who will be formally voted into post at the AGM in February 2024.

Welcome Patrick Usborne, chair

Margherita Cesca Nelder-Haynes, events coordinator

Risa Nagasaki, communications lead

Clare College River Room nears completion Clare College’s River Room Café by Witherford Watson Mann is almost complete. The complex and narrow site between two brick garden walls is being constructed using a laminated oak frame, as the best method of construction on a tightly constrained site. The café is set to open later this year. © Witherford Watson Mann Architects

Welcome to CA86! In our final issue of 2023, we cover a lot of ground. Over the summer, we said a sad goodbye to one chair, Sia, but welcomed another – Patrick, alongside new committee members. Taking a broad look at the construction industry, we examine one of the major issues in the region: water scarcity. Cambridge has been in the national news as the focus of significant regional development, but until the regional infrastructure is improved, is that really viable? JJ Watters, from Landscape Design Associates, looks at the lack of water in the region, while at the other end of the spectrum, Hoare Lea, engineering consultants, examine how to make the most of what we have. February Phillips of 5th Studio, takes a look at the UK government ‘concept’ of an additional 250,000 homes around Cambridge, and the CA editors ask ChatGPT and Bing Image Creator if they can make any sense out of the development idea. Colin Jones, of HCR Hewitsons, looks at insolvency in construction, while MKA Ecology examines the thorny topic of biodiversity net gain; Adrian Popplewell looks at lowcarbon acoustics, and Bonnie Kwok from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service discusses youth engagement. We look at an overview of the latest changes to the Building Safety Act. And, of course, we round off with our regular look at the work in progress around the region.

The editors Interior view CGI of the new River Room

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Welcome and news

Riverview House from a distance

Riverview House shortlisted for Manser Medal Riverview House by Mole has been shortlisted for the Manser Medal, the project having won a RIBA East award in 2023. The Manser Medal is an award that “recognises excellence in one-off home design”. The winner will be announced in London on 22 November 2023.

Local architects shortlisted for AJ Awards

Events © David Valinsky

Local practices MCW Architects, rhp and Mole Architects have been shortlisted for the 2023 AJ Awards. MCW has been shortlisted for its new building for ARU Peterborough and for Mill House, Cambridge. rhp has been shortlisted for its Passivhaus student accommodation for Lucy Cavendish College. Mole has been shortlisted for D2 Design District, London.

CAA Christmas Social Date and time: 13 December, from 6.30pm Location: TBC – see website www.cambridgearchitects.org

CFCI Lego Competition Date and time: 12 December,

Your chance to get involved in the urban room

5.30pm to 9pm Location: The Forum, Jesus College, Jesus Lane, Cambridge. SOLD OUT, but come along to spectate and network. Book spectator tickets at www.cfci.org.uk/event/lego-competitionspectator-tickets-only-available-copy-2/

The CAA is delighted to announce that the urban room is closer to reality than ever! We have formed a not-for-profit partnership between the Cambridge Association of Architects as the local chapter of the RIBA, the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. You can help define how this room works by entering our competition (see p27 for more details). Our charter is here: https://www.arct.cam.ac.uk/ research/urban-room-cambridge Please have a look and if you wish to share your thoughts and ideas with us, please write to: urbanroom@cambridgearchitects.org

RIBA launches Principal Designer Register The RIBA Principal Designer Register allows individual RIBA Chartered Members in the UK to demonstrate that they meet the competence criteria to serve as principal designers. The RIBA Academy offers a principal designer course. For members wishing to apply to become a principal designer they can begin the process by visiting architecture.com for more details.

Constructing Excellence Networking Breakfast and AGM Date and time: 4 December, 8.30am Location: Crausaz Wordsworth Building, Robinson College. Access via Adams Road Cambridge, CB3 9AD

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Letter from the chair

A collective responsibility CAA summer punting party

The CAA has a new chair and committee members, with new energy. Change begins at the membership level – what do you want to see the CAA accomplish in 2024?

CAA annual event

CAA summer punting party WORDS PATRICK USBORNE, CAA CHAIR

n June, I took on the role of chair of the CAA from Anastasia Orphanidou, and have been bowled over by the energy and enthusiasm within the CAA committee and wider membership. The positivity from forward-thinking architects, academics, students and design professionals is truly heartening to see. With a near 100-year history, the CAA continues to provide a forum for local architectural support and debate. Collaboration is fundamental to tackling issues such as the climate emergency and biodiversity loss, and helping to enable the places around us to thrive. Enriching our neighbourhoods needs to be achieved at the grass-roots level and the CAA has long-promoted the idea of an urban room for the whole region; a physical space to allow residents, students, and businesses to debate development plans. With help from Flora Samuel, the new head of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Architecture, Cambridge City Council, and South Cambridgeshire District Council, we hope that, in 2024, Cambridge may well have an urban room at last. This is particularly good timing: with the government rolling back on net-zero carbon pledges, and the ‘concept’ of 250,000 new homes in and around Cambridge, there is enormous pressure on the city. We have a collective

“Enriching our neighbourhoods needs to be achieved at the grass-roots level” responsibility to ensure we do the right thing for the wider Cambridge community and the city’s heritage, now and for generations to come. The good news is, we already have the technology and knowledge to create sustainable growth with meaningful social value, but progress is needed. Our event on 16 November, at Entopia, Cambridge, looked at the future of sustainable housing and what we need to still do as an industry as we edge closer to 2050. The CAA would love to hear from you. If you are facing a particular challenge, more than likely others are facing similar challenges,

and the CAA is here to help. RIBA East has already established a group dedicated to sole practitioners, and we have just launched a new CAA website that includes a new page for clients to find local practitioners. Our new website is now more relevant, more vibrant, and easier to navigate. It was launched at our Annual Reception, held on 18 October at Cripps Court, Magdalene College. An enormous thank you to our new communications lead, Risa Nagasaki, for her expert help to create the new website, and to all the committee for organising another memorable event.

Looking ahead to 2024 We are now turning our eyes to 2024, and new events, building tours and CPDs that might be relevant to our members. If you would like to suggest future events relevant to you, or get involved in the CAA, please email chair@cambridgearchitects.org. Our AGM will be held in the first week of February, when we will reflect on the past year, outline our vision for 2024, and elect any new committee members who wish to join. In the meantime, join us at our newly established monthly social, being held on the first Wednesday of the month, from 6pm, at The Architect, Cambridge.

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Climate

Under pressure: a landscape response Water – or more correctly the East’s lack of water – has been in the news recently. JJ Watters, of LDA Design, explains the challenges facing construction and new communities in the region New reservoir

WORDS JJ WATTERS, LDA DESIGN

LDA Design has been working with Anglian Water and Cambridge Water to undertake master planning services for a new reservoir in the region. The vision for this project goes beyond water storage; the ambition is to create a place where water, people and nature come together, with opportunities to deliver ecological benefits, new recreational and educational activities and natural places for people to explore. With projects like this, there is also

ater is vitally important to any landscape; it brings life, creates habitats for wildlife and supports our own health and wellbeing. The East of England is the driest region in the UK, receiving one-third less rainfall compared with the national average. Combined with increasingly hot summers, evapotranspiration rates typically exceed the monthly rainfall from April to September. This means that water stored in soil moisture or standing surface water is rapidly lost to the atmosphere, and the region is vulnerable to drought conditions. In this climate, water conservation is at the forefront of our designs, with sustainability and resilience as essential components, embedded into the process. Cambridgeshire is home to one of the largest chalk stream networks in the UK, a rare and valuable habitat that is recognised as a priority under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The streams are largely fed by underground water sources called aquifers, which maintain a stable temperature throughout the year, supporting a unique and diverse ecology. However, we acquire the bulk of our water supply from the same groundwater aquifers that feed the streams and because of the cumulative impacts of over-abstraction these habitats are under serious threat.

The region is also growing rapidly, with the government recently promoting a new urban quarter that could help deliver significant numbers of new homes and jobs over the next 50 years. Our water supply is under immense pressure, and sustaining this growth while protecting habitats and supporting chalk stream recovery requires a new strategy for water management in the area.

Attenuation lagoon at North West Cambridge, the largest rainwater recycling scheme in the country, treating and recovering water back into homes

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the opportunity to introduce naturebased solutions, moving away from an engineering-led approach and bringing with it a host of additional benefits. For example, introducing wetlands as part of the water treatment process could increase local biodiversity as well as delivering lower carbon and more costeffective solutions compared to traditional systems. Wetlands, basins and wet woodlands capture carbon dioxide and encourage cleaned surface water to soak into the ground and recharge aquifers.

Collected and retained rainwater is recycled for irrigation of planted beds on the Battersea site

Integrated approach

Not only are we facing a drier, hotter climate, the frequency of extreme weather events is increasing, and we must use our landscape as part of an integrated approach to surface water management. The Cambridge Local Plan requires all new developments to achieve greenfield runoff rates, which, for some schemes, means attenuating large volumes of water on site that can be discharged slowly. Sustainable urban drainage systems slow down the flow of water on site, gradually releasing water back into the environment. Swales, raingardens and attenuation ponds all create habitats and allow us to bring nature to people’s doorsteps. An exemplar for sustainable development, the University of Cambridge’s multi-award-winning North West Cambridge, is a lively new district providing 3,000 new homes and 100,000sqm space for pioneering research. LDA Design worked with sitewide contractor Skanska as landscape architects on the design of phase one. The scheme includes a series of green and blue roofs and landscaped swales that capture and convey rainwater into a beautiful attenuation lagoon. This forms the country’s largest rainwater recycling scheme, treating and recovering water back into houses at the same time as

“We are working closely with engineers and ecologists to reduce the dependence on water and reverse the impact of climate change”

Climate

establishing a valuable new habitat. We also need to be more creative with how our landscape responds to drought, maximising water conservation and futureproofing what we do now for climatic changes to come. At the Cranmer Road development, a graduate campus for King’s College in West Cambridge, our design aims to nurture and accommodate social interaction. The proposed planting palette was designed to be drought resistant and require no irrigation once established. This mix of perennials and grasses uses species from the Steppe regions of Eurasia, which are subject to prolonged periods of drought, and – five years on – these continue to flourish.

Harnessing technology

Our landscape also needs to work hard to harvest as much rainwater as possible for reuse in irrigation. Rainwater harvesting systems are becoming more sophisticated, allowing harvested water to be held for longer periods of time and releasing stores when heavy rain is forecast. These systems can also form part of the attenuation volume requirement for the site, doubling up in use. Irrigation systems themselves are also intelligent, linking to the weather forecast and using subsurface moisture metres to release no more water than required. Storage capacity is key here, but the advancement in these technologies is making it possible to have a fully selfsufficient irrigated landscape. LDA’s design for the landscape at London's Battersea Power Station involved several green roofs supported by large egg-crate drainage systems that collect and retain water. This allows storage on site and provides irrigation for the soft landscape during dry months. On the ground, rainwater is carefully directed into the base of larger tree pits and soft landscaping areas to reduce the need for watering and enhance the longevity of the tree growth. As landscape architects, we are working closely with engineers and ecologists to reduce the dependence on water and reverse the impact of climate change on our water ecosystems. Using a combination of function, ecology and amenity – from large-scale wetland and reservoir design, to specifying drought-resilient plant species and substrates that retain water for longer – we can create truly sustainable and longlasting solutions.

Smith and Wallwork Ltd 50 St Andrews Street, Cambridge, CB2 3AH www.smithandwallwork.com 01223 750 249 contact@smithandwallwork.com Cambridge Architecture 9

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Climate

Water scarcity: should we be scared? © iStock.com / Whitemay

We know that water is scarce in the region – but what can we do about it? Building services and environmental engineers Hoare Lea examine the techniques, targets and possibilities for making the most of what we have WORDS JAMIE PINCOTT, HOARE LEA

“[There is a] 75-90% chance of wars being fought over water within the next century” – European Commission Joint Research Centre

ater scarcity is becoming a growing global concern as weather patterns become more unpredictable, populations rise, and demand for resources grows. Expanding urbanisation in cities increases water demand, meaning that the local water supply cannot meet the population’s requirements, which can turn into a water deficit. The South East of England specifically has the highest water stress areas in the UK and, unsurprisingly, Cambridge also faces these issues. With relatively low annual rainfall compared with the rest of the UK, the region relies heavily on groundwater and surface water sources, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in precipitation patterns and increased demand from a growing population.

The current plan

Cambridge City Council is starting to promote this important issue for new

developments with the local plan (adopted in 2018) looking to create a “water sensitive city”. The plan says developments should meet the following criteria: ● Residential developments should show a standard of “110 litres/person/day”. ● Non-residential should achieve “full credits to be achieved for category Wat 01 of BREEAM”. This by no means covers all requirements set out in the plan, but it specifically poses the largest challenge of all the water management requirements. Wat 01 addresses water consumption reduction through encouraging developers to implement water-efficient fixtures and technologies, such as low-flow taps, dual-flush toilets, and rainwater harvesting systems. These measures help reduce the overall water consumption in construction projects, alleviating the pressure on local water resources.

We’re here

What could be the next steps?

Although, currently, there is no further push from the council for non-residential buildings, residential buildings could be asked to achieve a standard of ‘80 litres/ person/day’. This proposal, under the Greater Cambridge Local Plan, shows the council’s desire to strive for more ambitious regulations around water consumption. The next step for non-residential developments

Water scarcity is becoming a growing global concern, and the South East of England has the highest water stress areas in the UK

“Water harvesting systems could be the key to unlocking a water sensitive future”

when you need Planning and Development guidance

Find out more at carterjonas.co.uk/planning-and-development

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Climate

could see similar requirements as those of West Sussex County Council, which is pushing for new developments (within the majority of the council’s boundaries) to “demonstrate and robustly evidence water neutrality”. Water neutrality means that there would be no increase in water consumption. This would require further water efficiency measures such as reduced flow rates, water recycling and, potentially, offsetting measures. The calculations to prove water neutrality would likely move away from BREEAM, as it does not wholly capture water consumption, towards bespoke calculations.

Offsetting could look like:

Donations – like that of carbon credits Installation of smart meters over and above those planned ● Retrofitting of other buildings ● Water efficiency surveys and retrofits for homes, or businesses ● Support awareness campaigns for watersaving behaviours. ● ●

Though measures like this could be seen in the coming years, it is best to focus on mitigation and reduction measures now to ensure future-proof buildings are delivered that are less affected by increasing scarcity.

What needs to be considered in the developments?

Rainwater harvesting is the most common form of reuse, as it is the simplest system to integrate into the design by directing precipitation on the roof into the building for use in systems at a later point. Greywater recycling is where semi-clean water from sources in the building – such as used water from showers – is used in systems not requiring clean water to function, like WC flushing. Water harvesting and recycling systems need adequate space allowances when being integrated into the design. These systems can be large; for example, one building with a GIA of 10,000m² needed a 92m³ tank to be able to utilise its roof efficiently for a rainwater harvesting system. Such systems will also need clear runs from the drain point on the roof to the storage tank as shown in the schematic diagram (right). The number of drain points will depend

can take up significant space. Adopting such systems into a design must be done at early stages – integrating them at a later stage can create significant challenges and affect the economic viability of projects. Water use hierarchy, encouraging a reduction in demand before considering more complex methods. Offsetting should be a last resort on the size and pitch of the roof. Space will be needed for the tank, along with the pumping plant to deliver the water where required. It should be noted that, in the BREEAM calculation, for water to be considered harvested, it must be used to offset potable water in WC flushing. In contrast, recycled greywater does not normally return to a central storage. It is often captured at source and fed directly to the supplied equipment (again, to be considered under BREEAM it would need to serve WCs). This means that the system is local to a room (or building area) and so

“All the water that will ever be is, right now” - National Geographic, October 1993

Schematic of an example rainwater harvesting system

Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling

Water harvesting systems can yield a more efficient way to utilise resources through lower pumping from central feeds and sanitation plants. This of course will lead to a reduction in energy demand and the associated carbon from the water used. This is all great, but at what cost? For rainwater harvesting, considerations need to be made around the extra weight the system will incur on the structure, especially the water load defined by drainage times. Similarly, the associated storage tanks can be bulky and heavy, meaning that if situated on the roof (to enable gravity-driven systems that require less energy for pumping), the entire building structure will need to be reinforced to ensure the maximum load can be supported. Most designers, however, will likely find the tanks are best situated on the lowest floor of the building – even a basement. Basements contribute a significant proportion of embodied carbon to a build and should be limited as much as possible. For such systems to work, a greater amount of pipework is needed and the additional installations will also have an embodied carbon cost.

Conclusion

In the face of increasing water scarcity concerns in Cambridge, the construction sector should adopt sustainable practices to reduce its impact on local water resources. BREEAM provides a simplified framework for evaluating construction projects, by promoting water-efficient technologies, sustainable drainage systems, and waterquality management. Engaging with this, or bespoke calculations to better capture actual water consumption, will be a key part in moving Cambridge to a “water-sensitive city”. Balance will need to be struck between embodied carbon, cost, and water reuse and harvesting, with priority put to what is more pressing on the scheme. However, looking beyond compliance in all aspects of sustainability will ensure development proposals are well received, while providing a beneficial outcome for the environment, playing a pivotal part in larger societal change.

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Created wildflower meadow

Facing the future With the biodiversity net gain target rollout due to be implemented in January 2024, Will O’Connor of MKA Ecology discusses the impact and process of meeting BNG targets in schemes

n Cambridge Architecture Issue 79 (winter/spring 2020), I wrote about how architects and ecologists can work together to help benefit biodiversity, and create wonderful places. The world has moved on in the intervening period. Sadly, threats to biodiversity have not changed, with the most recent State of Nature Report1 indicating the continuing decline of our wildlife. In 2020, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) was an emerging topic. Reflecting on the intervening years, it is clear to see that the conversation around BNG is changing and in the very near future, it will directly have an impact on all of our projects.

Peregrine falcon

WORDS WILL O’CONNOR, MKA ECOLOGY

What is BNG and why is it relevant?

BNG enables the development of land while contributing to the recovery of nature. It provides a formal mechanism to facilitate measurement of a project’s baseline biodiversity value and compares this to its predicted biodiversity value postdevelopment. BNG has been developed because the Environment Act (2021) requires a 10% gain in biodiversity on all qualifying projects under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990). BNG analysis is achieved through the application of a Biodiversity Metric. The metric, developed by Natural England, uses habitats as a proxy for biodiversity. A numerical value (measured in biodiversity units) is assigned to each baseline habitat and each proposed habitat. Biodiversity units before and after the project are then compared to establish whether a net gain is delivered. The number of biodiversity units that a habitat achieves depends on such factors as its distinctiveness, condition, location and size. Your ecologist

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Biodiversity

Where are we now?

Secondary legislation associated with BNG is still being developed. We have moved through several, increasingly sophisticated, iterations of the Biodiversity Metric (now at version 4.0). The target rollout date for mandatory BNG was November 2023, but Defra has now postponed this until January 2024. That this was announced on the same day as the release of the State of Nature report, and hot on the heels of several government U-turns on net-zero policies, it was met with some consternation. However, the delay has been relatively well received as it allows more time for planning and preparation, and a clear alternative timetable has been proposed. In the public sector, the Royal Town Planning Institute suggests 61% of planners could not confirm if appropriate expertise would be available in house by the rollout date in November. This is not the case with all local planning authorities; many already have BNG embedded in their planning policies and guidance, for example the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Biodiversity SPD.

last resort, if onsite gains are impossible, or if there are no offsite options, it will be possible to buy statutory offsite credits that feed into national enhancement schemes. Prices set for statutory credits are eyewatering; this is intentional, as they are designed to encourage delivery of biodiversity on site, or as close as possible to it.

current and forthcoming projects to ensure policy compliance. While preparations have been under way within the industry, and the public sector, BNG places significant new demands on space, finance and expertise. These factors will no doubt present future challenges for us all. Be prepared by making space for nature and people, and embedding the principles of BNG in your design work from the outset.

The future is now

Although the official rollout has been delayed, you must consider BNG in all Common Blue butterfly

References: 1 https://stateofnature.org.uk/

Key messages ● Plan ahead – BNG is a major step change in how we design sites and could have a significant impact on layout in early design stages ● Retaining biodiversity that is already present is the best way to achieve BNG ● Deliver your net gain on site, biodiversity makes better sites so why not invest effort and money within your site boundary rather than on offsite area? ● Be realistic about the habitats you propose: it simply won’t be possible to create a high-quality, species-rich grassland in areas of high recreational pressures ● Consider the implications of management and monitoring that will be required for 30 years ● It’s not all about BNG: you must still consider protected and notable species and any associated impacts or enhancements. © MKA Ecology

will record baseline data and work with the site design team to help establish the predicted biodiversity units, and ensure an appropriate gain is delivered. BNG is presented as part of the planning pack in the form of a calculator and a Biodiversity Gain Plan. While finalised Biodiversity Gain Plans will be a pre-commencement condition, information on how the gain will be achieved will be required at the planning application stage. Furthermore, there must be a commitment to manage all habitats for a minimum period of 30 years.

Biodiversity

And small sites?

There will likely be a de minimis threshold whereby small impacts will not warrant a BNG appraisal. Currently, the threshold is 25m² for a habitat area, or 5m for linear features. Furthermore, a small-sites metric is currently under development – a simplified metric designed for smaller, low-impact sites, typically below one hectare. This, more recent metric, will be in use from April 2024.

Offsite developments

The BNG process allows delivery of net gain off site. Options include offsite habitat creation or enhancement agreements with public and private landowners that are becoming more widespread, including via habitat banks. It’s important to note that the metric will penalise the delivery of gains off site, with onsite gains preferred. As a

River habitats

bremner partnership www.bremnerpartnership.com

Project management

stuartb@bremnerpartnership.com Stuart Bremner (Tel: 07711 412583) Tim Harwood (Tel: 07749 250953)

Consultancy

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Expansion

Mapping the growth of Cambridge

Supercharged city Government ministers have suggested that, to boost economic growth in the region, Cambridge might accommodate 250,000 new homes by 2040. The CAA asked February Phillips, architect from 5th Studio, to consider the practical implications of expanding the city WORDS FEBRUARY PHILLIPS, ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT, 5TH STUDIO

ichael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), recently announced a bold ambition to facilitate the delivery of 250,000 new homes in ‘Cambridge’, with an estimated increase in population of around 600,000, by 2040. This statement of intent by DLUHC was met by a backlash of criticism from local politicians, as well as those involved in planning the growth of the city. The proposals would require a ‘supercharged’ planning, design, and delivery process to be implemented at an unprecedented rate. Cambridge is, however, no stranger to sporadic bursts of growth. The diagram above illustrates the size of population and the physical expansion of the city from the beginning of the 19th century to the start of the 21st century. Between 1890 and

1950, the population of the borough of Cambridge doubled – from nearly 40,000 to more than 80,000. In the latter half of the 20th century, the population increased by 30% over a 50-year period, with a growth rate of around 550 people per year Between 2011 and 2021, Cambridge grew from a population of 123,900 to 145,700 – a 17.5% increase, at a rate of around 2,180 people per year. So, faster than the historic growth spurts in terms of numbers, but comparable in terms of percentage growth over time. Cambridge’s growth between 2011 and 2021 is also rapid when compared with other local authorities. Dartford and Tower Hamlets were the only two that had growth rates above 17-18% between 2011 and 2021. The table, right, uses the 2011 and 2021 census data to show the rate of growth of the estimated number of households, as opposed to population, in Cambridge, South Cambs and all of Cambridgeshire (incorporating East

Cambs, Fenland and Huntingdonshire). It also illustrates the percentage rate of growth that would be required over the next 16-17 years to reach the suggested targets. In Greater Cambridge, there would need to be 209% growth and in Cambridgeshire 90%. The target of 250,000 new homes for Cambridge calls for an incredibly ambitious rate of growth in Rate of increase in households (estimates based on Census data) Cambridge

South Cambs

Greater Cambridge

Cambridgeshire

2011 Households

46,700

60,000

106,700

251,200

2021 Households

52,400

67,000

119,400

277,600

Increase in households 2011-2021

+ 5,700 12.2%

+7,000 11.7%

+14,600 13.7%

+26,400 10.5%

+250,000 209%

+250,000 90%

Aspirational increase over 20 years

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have to use ‘k’ it should be lower case on all three illustrations

development in 2016. So, it might be possible that when the DLUCH is talking about Cambridge, it means a much wider area, such as that in the NIC study. In Michael Gove’s speech on 24 July 2023, setting out his long-term plan for housing, Poundbury is referenced as an example of ‘beautiful’ development that could be used as a precedent for new homes. In 2019, Poundbury had 1,700 homes, across 160 hectares, with a density of 10 dwellings per hectare (dph). A more local example, of a similar size and density, is Cambourne (4,350 households, 400 hectares, 11dph). To provide 250,000 homes in ‘beautiful’ developments there would need to be 57 new Cambournes. Obviously, a single type of development, such as Cambourne or Poundbury, is unlikely to be the appropriate solution to provide all the new homes set as a target. In his speech, Gove talked about the “principles of gentle densification… new urban quarters of terraced houses and thoughtful apartment blocks – the Haussmannian-style transformation of urban space”. I’m not sure many of the residents of late-19th century Paris thought there was anything, ‘gentle’ about Haussmann’s approach to densification, but let’s overlook this contradiction and consider the current ambitions for the densification of Cambridge over the next 20 years. The Cambridge City and South Cambs local plans set out that 33,500 new homes could be delivered between 2011 and 2031. The number of new houses

households compared with historic rates. The recent focus on Cambridge as a well-connected city, with an economy that has the potential to grow and support new jobs, and that therefore needs new homes for a growing population, does not come as a surprise. In 2016, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) was asked to consider how to maximise the potential of the Cambridge–Milton Keynes–Oxford corridor as a ‘knowledge intensive’ cluster. A report by 5th Studio, as part of the evidence base for this, explored the spatial impact of a ‘transformational target’ of up to one million new homes across the arc by 2050, a target that had been established using economic modelling alone. Given both the size and location of Greater Cambridge, it might be reasonable to assume that at least 250,000 of the one million homes could be accommodated in and around Cambridge. It is worth noting, however, that the area identified within the report extended south into the corridor better served by infrastructure and closer to London, as opposed to within the Cambridgeshire boundary that extends north towards Peterborough and Wisbech. The report suggested that a total of 270,000 new homes could be accommodated in this area by 2050, including some of the new homes that were needed in London, according to economic modelling, but which were unlikely to be achieved there because of development constraints. Of the new homes for the Cambridge area, 80,000 were defined as already in planned

Expansion

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Expansion

Image from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service, published in local newspapers, 10 November 2021 Note: Published online by Cambridge Independent with the above credit

all going to be faster, more powerful, and closer together – but there is a real risk that we all start buzzing around in an excited way and bumping into each other, when what’s really needed is controlled, yet innovative, strategic focus. It’s hard to tell from recent statements from DLUHC what the ambition might be for the character and type of new places that will come with 250,000 new homes. There was, however, some rhetoric in Gove’s speech that might give us a hint.

Defining beauty

‘Building beautiful’, is a term we’ve been hearing on repeat recently. I’m not convinced that Gove and I would agree on what makes beautiful buildings, streets or neighbourhoods – and why should we? We have very different life experience, education and core values. So, who is going to define beauty, how are they going to test it to check there is a consensus on the beautiful, and who is going to set regulations to make sure everyone complies with the new laws of beauty for housing in Cambridge, all in a very short period of time? Gove also mentioned “communities ‘taking back control’ of their future”. Cambridge is full of well-meaning people

who can see the benefits of providing more and better quality affordable housing, in neighbourhoods where healthy, positive communities can thrive, supported by meaningful employment. And these existing communities are also great at coming together to fight a cause, whether it’s congestion charging or changing a street layout. Given this, it’s unlikely that any amount of Conservative party spin could win over a Cambridge community ‘taking back control’ that was in opposition to more extensive new housing development in the city and surrounding villages. There are, however, lots of local planners and urban designers who have been working with exactly the types of challenges and conflicts currently faced by Cambridge. They have been engaging with local communities, coming up with strategic masterplans that respond to the need for rapid growth, establishing frameworks and guidance to ensure positive development, designing for housing alongside all the ‘glue’ of social and physical infrastructure required to support it. And we’re all ‘supercharged’ and waiting for the call to be part of the team that works out how we can make the best of Cambridge’s contribution towards ‘building a better Britain’! ©2023 Greater Cambridge Shared Planning

completed in Greater Cambridge between 2011 and 2021 was approximately 16,000 (around half the target, in around half the time). In September 2021, the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service published a map illustrating 690 possible development sites for inclusion in the next local plan, with the potential to deliver 49,000 new homes in the area. In addition to this, some of the sites currently coming forward in the city are looking at higherdensity development than that considered in the local plan projections, with some as high as 120dph over approximately 50 hectares, that’s 1.25 Cambournes in almost a tenth of the space of Cambourne. The current projections for new housing development in the city and South Cambs could accommodate at least an estimated 50,000 new homes by 2040 – 20% of the overall 250,000 target. Everyone involved in the construction industry in Cambridge, however, is acutely aware that delivering the number of houses already set out will need a concerted effort, creative strategic planning, and investment in the design and delivery of new infrastructure. The ambition is that we can somehow ‘supercharge’ the system to deliver at five times the current projections. The term ‘supercharging’ implies we’re

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Expansion

Reinventing Cambridge WORDS CHATGPT

Cambridge 2040: Pioneering Britain’s Silicon Valley Cambridge, renowned for its rich history and academic excellence, is poised for a remarkable transformation with the ‘Cambridge 2040’ plan. Spearheaded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, this ambitious initiative aims to reshape the city into ‘Britain’s Silicon Valley’ by constructing up to 250,000 new homes and investing billions in cutting-edge laboratories and research facilities over the next two decades. Guiding this visionary endeavor is Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, who has identified Cambridge as an ideal location for rapid housing development.

The Vision: A New City Quarter and Streamlined Planning

At the heart of ‘Cambridge 2040’ lies the creation of a New City Quarter—a dynamic and interconnected urban hub designed to redefine modern living. This innovative approach combines contemporary urban design with sustainability principles, fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-thinking community. It transcends infrastructure, aiming to nurture innovation and social cohesion. To expedite these developments, ‘supercharged’ planning rules will be employed, streamlining complex planning processes to ensure swift project approvals without compromising quality or environmental standards.

All images © Bing Image Creator

When the government suggested that 250,000 homes should be added to Cambridge before 2040, Cambridge Architecture asked ChatGPT and Bing Image Creator to get cracking, because there’s clearly no time to lose

History is not static, or apparently orthogonal. Radical extensions might be in our future

In a sunlit possible future city quarter, trams glide through from distant towers through traditionally designed streets

planning ensures green spaces, parks, and nature reserves flourish alongside urban development, offering residents and visitors a serene haven amidst the city’s bustling innovation. In conclusion, ‘Cambridge 2040’ offers a bold vision for the future, reshaping Cambridge into ‘Britain’s Silicon Valley.’ Focused on sustainable urban development, streamlined planning, water

resource management, and a steadfast dedication to preserving green spaces, this plan promises to revolutionize the city while preserving its historical and environmental legacy. Under the visionary leadership of Michael Gove and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, Cambridge is poised to become a global epicenter for innovation and technology in the years to come.

A new Cambridge Quarter stretches out to the horizon

Addressing Water Scarcity: A Sustainable Approach

The ‘Cambridge 2040’ plan confronts one of the region’s most pressing issues—water scarcity. With the population expected to surge due to new housing developments, innovative solutions for water management are crucial. The plan encompasses strategies for efficient water use, advanced irrigation systems, and rainwater harvesting, promoting environmental responsibility alongside growth.

Laboratories and Scientific Excellence

Cambridge’s reputation as a hub for pioneering research is set to soar with the investment of billions in cutting-edge laboratories and research facilities. This significant investment will establish Cambridge as a global scientific center, fostering innovation across a spectrum of fields, from biotechnology to artificial intelligence.

Preserving the Greenbelt

‘Cambridge 2040’ maintains a strong commitment to preserving the region’s greenbelt. Careful urban

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A giant furry creature and wobbly-looking buildings from DeepAI

A less-than-compelling urban design from DALL-E 2

Expansion

More impressive results with Bing Image Creator

and... behind the scenes Asking AI to carry out a major piece of city- and region-wide urban design at short notice was probably rather ambitious. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we tasked our future overlords with designing New Cambridge WORDS DAVID ADAMS ASSISTANCE FROM TOM FOGGIN, KAREN ADAMS

iven the futuristic ideals for expanding Cambridge, we decided we should try some futuristic technology and ask artificial intelligence (AI), which can apparently do anything these days, to come up with some text and images for a compelling article about the future of Cambridge.

the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, had “identified Cambridge as an area where tens of thousands of homes can be built quickly” 250,000 homes Cambridge New City Quarter Supercharged planning rules solving water scarcity Laboratories Science hub Michael Gove Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Cambridge Greenbelt

The text

The images

Karen used ChatGPT for the main text, and it required about four attempts to persuade it to stick to the word limit of the article (perhaps similar to a few of our human contributors!). The output was not localised grammatically to the UK, so contained American spellings and structure.

The prompt to ChatGPT

400-word article about drawing up a ‘Cambridge 2040’ plan to turn Cambridge into ‘Britain’s Silicon Valley’, with as many as 250,000 new homes built over the next 2 decades, along with billions of pounds of investment in laboratories and scientific research facilities. The plan was apparently being drawn up by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ‘take the local plan and put it on steroids’. Michael Gove,

Creating imagery was fascinating. We all looked at this, although all three of us are largely novices with AI. Karen used DALL-E 2 (from Open AI), with the prompt: “Photorealistic aerial view showing new future area of Cambridge with wider streets, tram, trees, in sunlight, but with traditional-style buildings.” This was based on some of the published imagery of a ‘new quarter for Cambridge’ from Create Streets. The results were mixed at best, and not exactly compelling. Tom used DeepAI and very quickly generated a few images using the text prompt: “A masterplan drawing of a modern, sustainable new district for the city of Cambridge, UK, including affordable housing, science and technology buildings, and well-designed public realm.” Tom thought that a

more specific prompt would probably aid matters, though we’re still not sure where the giant furry creature came from. David tried DALL-E 2 with equally mixed results as Karen, and then opted for Bing Image Creator, having read that this was now using DALL-E 3 and was significantly improved. Though the images took time to process (more than 24 hours until notification that they were ready, probably because of site popularity), the results were impressive. They were based on three prompts: “Cambridge street corner with a combination of futuristic buildings and traditional buildings with people and shiny trams and buses”; “Aerial view of Cambridge in the future showing traditional buildings, but with shiny trams and lots of trees”; and “Cambridge in the year 2050 at street level showing shiny trams, trees and the corner view of traditional buildings in sunlight”.

Conclusion

AI isn’t particularly intelligent, but as an idea generator it’s impressive. There are huge copyright, intellectual property and moral implications with the use of it, and it carries significant risks when used for design. But it is, and will undoubtedly continue to be, a fundamental part of our future.

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Insolvency

Risky business © www.istock.com / Sanjeri

Rising interest rates and inflation have put the UK economy under serious pressure, and the construction industry in particular. Colin Jones, head of construction and engineering law at HCR Hewitsons, looks at the tricky situation of insolvency WORDS COLIN JONES, HEAD OF CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING LAW AT HCR HEWITSONS

The government’s Insolvency Service statistics confirm that, in 2023, construction businesses accounted for one in five recorded insolvencies. One construction company went into administration every other day in Q1 2023. Significantly higher numbers went into liquidation during the same period, at an average rate of around 11 per day. What should you be looking out for? ● Contractors or suppliers who seem to have cash flow issues. ● Those who are paying supply chain invoices or employees’ wages late. ● Those trying to renegotiate payment terms. ● Any stopping or suspending work without explanation. ● Overdue filing of accounts or annual returns. If there are early warning signs, agencies such as Companies House allow you to ‘follow’ companies with concerns for free. The Gazette is a UK official public record where insolvency notices such as the presentation of a winding up petition are published. Seek an up-to-date credit report for the company, which packages up publicly available information. Before decisions are taken as to how to formally respond to a potential insolvency, assess the commercial drivers of the struggling business. Seek to understand what the contract payment position is and to what extent there are outstanding payments due, or about to become due, to the contractor or supplier facing insolvency. It may be cost-effective to reach a supporting agreement with the business directly; or with any appointed insolvency practitioner if appointed, for the continued works or supply for a period. Be clear as to the contractual position. Mere insolvency rumours are no grounds to terminate a contract, but the standard form building contracts include express rights to terminate where a contractor enters a formal insolvency procedure. Be careful to operate the contract as specified. If it is not followed, whether in terms of the rights to terminate or any termination notification procedure, then the employer who ejects a contractor, other than on contractual grounds, risks the contractor successfully holding the employer itself as being in default. Confirm whether an insolvency-based termination permits an employer to withhold payments. Is there a requirement to serve a ‘pay less’ notice? Can custody be taken of plant, materials, drawings and equipment? Is there a termination account mechanism,

Before decisions are taken as to how to formally respond to a potential insolvency, assess the commercial drivers of the struggling business

“The challenges for all involved in the construction sector – high energy, material and labour costs, and the rest – has resulted in a record number of business casualties” assuming the contract has to be completed by a replacement contractor? Be alive to the ‘smash and grab’ adjudications such as where the employer prematurely stops applying the contract payment mechanism and in which case an adjudicator could determine that an application for payment is due in default. Even an insolvent party is permitted to use adjudication to pursue a claim, although despite the ‘pay up now, argue later’ principle of adjudication the court will

have to be persuaded to enforce a decision in such circumstances. The challenges for all involved in the construction sector in terms of high energy costs, material and labour cost inflation, supply chain shortages, and all the rest, has resulted in a record number of business casualties. Any party involved in construction – including on the client and consultant side – therefore needs to remain vigilant about insolvency risks.

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Youth engagement

It's a YES from city students A youth engagement framework for Cambridge has meant hundreds of schoolchildren have had the opportunity to get creative in their built environment WORDS BONNIE KWOK AND TOM DAVIES

‘I

liked talking about architecture because I want to become an architect!’ says one of the Year 5 students when asked for feedback on a youth engagement workshop at Shirley Community Primary School, Cambridge, earlier this year. Since 2017, more than 720 children and young people have enjoyed taking part in the educational youth engagement activities with the Greater Cambridge Youth Engagement Service (YES). Led by officers Bonnie Kwok, Tom Davies and Maxine Ross, the YES team provides a range of initiatives as part of the pre-application process, using their expertise in urban design, town planning and architecture. It aims to give opportunities for children and young people to have input into the design of buildings and public spaces, thereby helping to promote equality, diversity and inclusion among children and young people, who are one of the most underrepresented groups in the planning process.

Have your say

Based on an established Youth Engagement Framework developed by the YES team, officers and the applicant’s design team work collaboratively to engage local children, ensuring that they have genuine opportunities to influence the design of

development proposals through its Have Your Say programme. Children take part in design workshops led by the YES team; they help design buildings, play areas or street furniture for new developments in their local area. Their designs are then incorporated into the final proposals to ensure genuine participation and child-sensitive design. A typical design workshop includes a site tour, a talk about the basic theory of design, a careers talk about job opportunities in the built and natural environment and a design competition. To date, 13 developments across Greater Cambridge, comprising housing, offices, laboratories and retirement homes, have had local children’s design input. “It was really good and inspiring for us,” says Hugo, a Year 5 student who designed a sausage-dog bench with a speaker that produces barking sounds for the Melbourn Science Park’s public lawn area. Matt Humphries, community and commercial manager for Bruntwood, says: “Thanks to the YES team, we can have meaningful input from the local youth community. The children came up with some fantastic ideas for street furniture and open spaces in Melbourn Science Park. We look forward to the street furniture unveiling ceremony this autumn and celebrating their creativity with the wider community.”

A design workshop led by Bonnie Kwok

Work experience programme

The YES team also runs a work experience programme to ensure that young people are given the opportunity to obtain work experience in town planning, urban design and architecture, working with officers and local architects in these areas through reallife projects. Students are taught how to compile a portfolio to document their work to help them with future university and job interviews. To date, more than 30 young people have benefited from the programme, and many of them have gone on to study and have a career in the built environment industry.

Before getting stuck into design, children took part in a site tour

Some of the completed street furniture unveiled this autumn

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Youth engagement

Some of the street furniture designed by children installed at Melbourn Science Park

Accolades

Children develop ideas as part of a design competition

The YES Team is one of the few local government organisations in the UK that takes a proactive approach to ensure that children and young people have a genuine say in the development proposals that will have an impact on them, and that their designs are reflected in the development proposal through a legal process. Its work also ensures children and young people are given the opportunity to obtain advice and guidance on pursuing a career in the built environment industry. In 2022, the team was shortlisted by the prestigious Thornton Education Trust for the ‘Social Value’ and ‘School Collaborations’ Awards. Its team lead, Bonnie Kwok, won the Individual Youth Practitioner of the Year Award, recognising her leadership in promoting and enabling youth engagement. Email bonnie.kwok@greatercambridgeplanning.org for further information.

Maxine Ross, Tom Davies, Bonnie Kwok with workshop participants

“Thanks to the YES team, we can have meaningful input from the local youth community”

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Acoustics

Sustainable sound Designing out intrusive mechanical sounds gets more difficult the more systems are incorporated into our houses. Adrian Popplewell, of Popplewell Acoustics, shares guidance on low-carbon solutions and systems WORDS ADRIAN POPPLEWELL, POPPLEWELL ACOUSTICS

As sustainability and low-carbon technologies transform the way we design and build, heat pumps are increasingly becoming a feature of energyefficient buildings. They offer significant advantages for efficiency and energy savings, but while modern heat pumps may be marketed as being ‘ultra-quiet’, they still produce a very common environmental pollutant, namely noise.

How loud?

The most significant noise sources in external heat pump units are the compressors that produce a steady, low-frequency hum, and fans (in air source heat pumps) that create a higher-pitched ‘whooshing’ or ‘whirring’ sound. Noise levels vary significantly between units (see graph below). Even units operating at the same duty vary by up to 13dB; subjectively more than twice as loud.

and elderly people most affected.1 Long-term exposure is linked with increased levels of cardiovascular diseases. In the short term, noise pollution disturbs work, can lead to distraction, anxiety, and stress, and affects our sleep patterns. In 2011, Defra2 estimated the social cost of environmental noise at £7-10bn per year in England alone.

What do you want it to sound like?

There is a big question here; what do we want our sustainable communities to sound like? As with any shift in technology, we have an opportunity to intentionally decide what sort of environment we want to live in. While quite rightly reducing reliance on fossil fuels, we need to ensure our towns and

“One in five Europeans are regularly exposed to sound levels at night that could significantly damage health”

How does this impact our health?

While noise pollution may not be as pressing an issue as shifting climate patterns, excessive environmental noise causes health problems. According to the World Health Organization, one in five Europeans are regularly exposed to sound levels at night that could significantly damage health, with children, the chronically ill

What can I do?

While most sizeable installations require a robust planning noise assessment, there are fundamental considerations during concept design that can help enormously.

Strategic placement

Place units away from noise-sensitive buildings such as residences. Locating plant in already noisy parts of a site such as next to a main road, can also be a good option. Hiding heat pumps on a secluded and therefore quiet site boundary is understandable but will probably result in more sound attenuation being needed.

Enclosures/barriers

Acoustic enclosures or barriers around heat pumps are effective. There are numerous types available, whether they are solid or acoustic louvres specifically designed for the task. Any barrier should be high enough to provide ‘line of sight’ screening from the receiver location to maximise attenuation.

Landscape design

Manufacturers’ sound power level

Landscaping elements can serve a dual purpose: enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the surroundings while providing some acoustic screening. While some small noise reduction is possible with planting there needs to be at least a 10m deep area of tall, dense vegetation for any discernible benefit.

70 68 66

Sound power level (dBA)

cities do not become dominated by the whirring fan and compressor noises of our low carbon future. Ensure enclosures do not affect the unit airflow, as well as considering the cost implications of adding an enclosure. The good news is that there are proven ways to reduce heat pump noise. Acoustic engineers can reduce the noise from heat pumps enabling installation more widely, whether by quieter fan blade design or specifying variable speed motors.

Conclusions

13dB difference

As we strive to create spaces that integrate sustainable technologies like heat pumps, we must maintain a balance between reducing energy use and increasing noise pollution. With thoughtful design strategies, we can create environments that are both energy efficient and conducive to comfort and wellbeing. In doing so, we will maximise the benefits of heat pump technology and keep moving towards a sustainable, low carbon future.

60 58 56 54 52 1.0

3.0

5.0

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9.0

11.0

13.0

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kW Manufacturer A

Manufacturer B

Manufacturer C

Manufacturer D

Range of noise levels from external ASHP Units (Credit: Noise Consultants Ltd.)

Manufacturer E

Manufacturer E – Low noise

References: 1 https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/factsheets/item/noise 2 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/218696/env-impact-noise.pdf

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Urban room

A place in the making The Cambridge Association of Architects, in partnership with the University of Cambridge, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council, are setting up an ‘urban room’ WORDS ZE’EV FEIGIS, ARCHITECT AND CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS COMMITTEE MEMBER

he Cambridge Room is a joint initiative to form an ‘urban room’ – a physical space where people can come together to understand, debate and participate in the creation of their local area. The term was coined 10 years ago by Sir Terry Farrell in a national review of architecture and the built environment commissioned by the government (see https://farrellreview.co.uk), which suggested that “every town and city without an architecture and built environment centre should have an ‘urban room’ where the past, present and future of that place can be inspected”. Although specific to each city, most urban rooms share the same basic principles, such as: ● Focus on the shared built environment – streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces ● Open-door inclusivity – all welcome, especially those who are traditionally under-represented in decision-making about our villages, towns and cities ● Exploration through creative activities – prompt curiosity and fresh thinking ● ‘On site’, that is, located in the places that are being discussed.

Our region is a vibrant hub of financial growth, raising national and international interest. We pride ourselves on excellence, but Cambridge is one of the most unequal cities in the UK. While education, investment and innovation drive success, we want to allow everyone to remember our past, understand the changes we are going through in the present and have a say about the way we would live in a sustainable future. We have formed a not-for-profit partnership between the Cambridge Association of Architects as the local chapter of the RIBA, the department of architecture at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. The aim of this partnership – run as

“The room is the beginning of architecture” (Louis Kahn, The Room, the Street, and Human Agreement, 1971)

a charity – is to act as an independent and unbiased agent aimed to connect the local residents, institutions, developers and PLACE (planning, landscape, architecture, conservation and engineering) professionals. The Room is supported by the Urban Rooms Network (urbanroomsnetwork. org) and we are constantly learning from our colleagues’ experiences and initiatives. Cambridge is lucky to have a wide breadth of international academic knowledge and we aim to invite such expertise to help us reflect on our place among global trends and discourse. Creating the physical space is our next challenge, and in the meantime we have put together an initial charter, which intends to map our values and our way forward: www.arct.cam.ac.uk/research/urbanroom-cambridge Have a look and if you wish to share your thoughts and ideas with us please write to: urbanroom@cambridgearchitects.org

The aim of the Cambridge Room is to raise the quality of the built and natural environment for the benefit of all through collective action and better access to the planning and consultation process. We took out the word ‘urban’ from the name because much of the greater Cambridge area is also rural, and the villages and sites of South and East Cambridgeshire are forming an inseparable fabric together with the city, interwoven by the Fens, the fields and waterways.

Legal expertise to build success +44 1223 532 731 | www.hcrlaw.com 26 Cambridge Architecture

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Competition

Competition brief:

M A K E M A Y O R U K R

We are asking our members to help us imagine what the new Cambridge Room could include and how we can start thinking about the village or city and the nature around and within them. The room can be a specific or an abstract space, a single permanent location or many temporary pop-ups. Unleash your creativity and share your vision with us. We are also looking for a logo to capture the spirit of the Room, which will be used to identify it and represent us on the shopfront of the physical space. The ideas can take shape as a model, a sketch, a drawing or a poem – any media is welcomed as long as it can fit on one A3 sheet (portrait) in PDF format, no larger than 3Mb. Please also include a short paragraph explaining your idea and the logo. The submission should include your name, contact email and whether you are a student (RIBA part 1/2) or a practising architect.

Competition deadline: Submissions should be sent by noon on 1 December 2023 via email: urbanroom@cambridgearchitects.org

Prize: The winner will receive a £500 prize honorarium and a chance to help curate events in the Cambridge Room. All submissions will be published in Cambridge Architecture magazine with further publication and social media via the RIBA, University of Cambridge department of architecture, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire councils.

The judging panel will include: Flora Samuel, head of the department of architecture, University of Cambridge Tumi Hawkins, South Cambridgeshire lead cabinet member for planning Katie Thornburrow, Cambridge City Council executive councillor for planning, Building Control and infrastructure Peter Studdert, independent town planner and former director of planning at Cambridge City Council Ze’ev Feigis, architect and Cambridge Association of Architects committee member.

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BSA 2022: duty holder update

All change again From 1 October 2023, any building work started for which Building Regulations 2010 applies, is subject to a new duty holder regime. This is secondary legislation arising from the Building Safety Act. Colin Jones of HCR Hewitsons, gives a brief rundown on the basics of duty holders and competency requirements WORDS CAMBRIDGE ARCHITECTURE WITH ADVICE FROM COLIN JONES, HCR HEWITSONS

A duty holder can be an organisation or an individual, and the same person can be a duty holder under both the CDM Regulations and in regard to the Building Regulations 2010, provided that they are competent to take on those responsibilities. The new duty holder regime relates to building work to which the Building Regulations 2010 applies – meaning most forms of building work including domestic and commercial projects. All duty holders have general responsibilities and (mirroring the CDM Regulations 2015), the principal designer and principal contractor also have specific duties. We recommend a review of these requirements as they are extensive. The RIBA has produced a guide here: www.architecture.

com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledgelanding-page/building-safety-act-regulationsupdates-2023 Duty holder responsibilities in general during the design and construction phase include: 1. To plan, manage and monitor the work to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations. 2. To co-operate with other duty holders, sharing information, communicating effectively, supporting each other in compliance. 3. Ensure that they and the people they appoint are competent, i.e. have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to carry out design work and building work and only do so within the limits of competence.

Competency requirements Everyone involved in design or building work must be competent and demonstrate their competence to undertake the work in compliance with the Building Regulations. The British Standards Institute has published a suite of built environment competence standards. There are enhanced competency requirements for higher-risk buildings. Duty holders will be able to demonstrate competence by: ● Relevant training and qualifications ● Membership of a trade or professional body ● Having relevant experience ● Adopting competence framework relevant to their discipline

The many Building Regulations

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BSA 2022: duty holder update

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Compliance with BSI competency standards. See also the guide published by the Chartered Institute of Building and the Royal Institute of British Architects – A Guide to Managing Safety Critical Elements in Building Construction.

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Declaration of competence The client and principal duty holders (principal designer and contractors) are to provide a signed compliance declaration within five days of completion of the work confirming: ● To the best of the client’s knowledge, the work complies with the Building Regulations

“Everyone involved in building work must demonstrate their competence to undertake the work in compliance with the Building Regulations”

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The principal designer and contractor have fulfilled their duties.

Liability for non-compliance A breach of duty-holders’ duties will be a criminal offence. The Building Safety Regulator will set out requirements for enforcement by private and public sector building inspectors and approvers. Transition The new duty holder and competence regime does not apply if: ● Building work started on or before 1 October 2023; or ● Plans for a project have been deposited with a local authority or the ‘initial notice’ for a project has been given to a local authority before 1 October 2023.

The new duty holder regime relates to building work to which the Building Regulations 2010 applies

Changes to contract terms The new law will require standard form contracts and appointments to be revised. As the duty holder regime is intended to be similar to the CDM Regulations, parties are likely to adopt a similar approach to identifying which party is taking on a duty holder role and pricing for it. ● The CAA is grateful to Colin Jones, head of construction and engineering law at HCR, for assistance with this article. For further information, contact Colin Jones – cdjones@hcrlaw.com

CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS— QUANTITY SURVEYORS

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Work in progress WORDS SUSIE LOBER

New community hub on site Ingleton Wood A much-anticipated Cherry Hinton Community Hub is on site. The new hub has been designed in consultation with local residents and will feature a new café, three meeting rooms, refurbished library and a garden. As a multi-disciplinary property and construction firm, Ingleton Wood says it is honoured to be a part of such a local and exciting project, providing architectural, structural and civils, mechanical and electrical, and CDM services from the concept design to construction stage. The new, fully accessible community hub is scheduled to be open in spring 2024.

Go-ahead for retail and residential project Graham Handley Architects

Redevelopment of labs and workspaces

Planning permission has been secured by GHA for a mixed-use site on Newmarket Road. The proposals reuse and extend existing buildings, opposite the former JH Cooper & Sons furniture store, to provide a larger retail unit and 12 one-bedroom flats and a small, landscaped courtyard. The project was a complex planning application, balancing heritage and new-build opportunities on a tight urban corner site. With consent now secured, the client is exploring market options.

Feilden + Mawson LLP, in collaboration with Henning Larsen Vitrum by Breakthrough is a redevelopment of the existing Vitrum site on St John’s Innovation Park into high-quality, wellbeing-led laboratories and workspaces, to provide approximately 16,350m2 GIA. The unique design harnesses the natural green spaces of its context, extending them into the entrance plaza and the foyer of the building through the transparent façade. The surrounding landscaping is continued on the landscaped terraces and roofs, prioritising biodiversity and sustainability. A planning application has been submitted and construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024.

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Spotlight on projects by Chartered Practices

Eco-refurbishment naturally AC Architects Cambridge Ltd

Community restores historic lido R H Partnership Architects

AC Architects Cambridge Ltd is currently on site with this whole house refurbishment and extensions in central Cambridge, using natural materials throughout the building fabric. Cork and foam glass aggregate floor insulations, sheep’s wool and cork wall insulations, and wood fibre roof insulation have all been used instead of synthetic insulations, and the use of concrete has been reduced. Lime render and cork external finishes marry in with the existing and new brickwork to create a striking yet sympathetic addition that is harmonious with the existing colour palette. The rear loft dormer is now in the process of being formed and AC Architects look forward to seeing the overall volume take shape.

The restoration of Saltdean Lido is close to completion. Described as the ‘Seventh Wonder of the World’ by English Heritage, Saltdean Lido is the only Grade II* listed coastal lido in the country. Opened in 1938, its unique streamlined design encapsulates Britain’s modernist and social aspirations of the time for creating seaside architecture for the enjoyment of the masses. In 2010, the leaseholder announced plans to fill in the pool with concrete and build 102 apartments on the historic site. With the building’s future in peril, local supporters campaigned to save the facility. rhp is architect, conservation architect and lead designer for this fascinating project that will restore the building to its former 1930s glory.

Brooklands workplace campus under way Allies and Morrison Designed by Allies and Morrison, Brooklands is a new workplace campus in Brooklands Avenue, near the Hills Road junction. Responding to different scales on this transition site, the design creates buildings that vary in height and form to integrate with the nearby residential and commercial characters. The buildings are placed around a central garden courtyard and unified by a colonnade, creating a new publicly accessible route through the site. A variety of different workspaces will be provided, which are nearly all pre-let to tenants already, and benefit from landscaped roof terraces. The scheme is designed to achieve net-zero carbon in operation – maximising solar collection on the roofs, integrating air source heat pumps and delivering high fabric performance. Onsite car parking is reduced by 90% and more than 300 cycle parking spaces will be provided. The scheme is on target to achieve BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A+ rating. The project is currently on site.

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