News
International Ban on resale of homes
Consultancies merge
Consultants Davis Langdon & urged to promote refurbs
Seah Japan Ltd have merged
with DG Jones and Partners
(Japan) Ltd. The merger was
n
Homes with an energy-
BRE
performance rating below D
effective from 17 June and the
should be banned from being put
partnership will now be known
on the market until they have been
as Davis Langdon & Seah Japan
improved, an environmental group
Ltd.
has urged.
Marian Spain, strategy director
Buro Happold in Far East
at the Energy Saving Trust, said the
Engineering consultancy Buro
move would force householders to
Happold has opened its first
refurbish their properties.
office in the Far East as part of a
She also proposed making it a
push into the Asia Pacific region.
planning condition to retrofit the
The new team will be led by
whole house when householders
Matthew Smith, office director,
sought planning permission to alter
and overseen by Steve Brown,
their homes.
who recently took on the new
Speaking at the recent Insite
role of managing director for the
2009 conference, Spain said that a
Middle East, Asia Pacific and
study in the south-west of England Consultancy BRE unveils its ‘Renewable House’ during Insite 09 at its Innovation Park
Africa.
showed that, despite efforts so far in Watford. It has been built using renewable materials including hemp for the walls
by government and other agencies,
Climate-change project
more than 50 per cent of cavity walls And, even if the scheme works, Council, said that as well as
Engineering and design remained unfilled and 60 per cent of people still want an upfront “carrot” incentives to change behaviour,
consultancy Arup has launched lofts were not adequately insulated. to take part, such as a reduction on perhaps a return to the era of
its project to create a sustainable She blamed the problem council tax or stamp duty. general improvement areas and
city for the future in Australia. partly on the bombardment of Spain also criticised the Carbon housing action areas was needed,
The consultancy’s ‘VEGAS2015: information to householders, Emissions Reduction Target, which focused on private housing.
the Brisbane retrofit project’ was leaving them confused as to where provides householders with grants Paul King, chief executive of the
officially launched at the 2009 to turn. to improve energy efficiency. UK Green Building Council, said
CitySmart Innovation Festival to People didn’t have the time or She said the scheme was that, to achieve the government’s
tackle the challenges of climate resources to implement energy hindered by its “stop-start” nature, seven-million whole house
change. efficient measures and pay for them with funding for it drying up. makeover target by 2020, at least
up front either, she said. Companies worked in the most 50,000 homes needed to be
Water management plan “Interest payments are a huge cost-effective ways for themselves upgraded within the next year. That
Mott MacDonald is helping barrier to people who are not and not in the best interests of the figure needed to double in 2010 and
states in eastern Europe and prepared to pay interest – if it’s not public, she added. again the year after that, until 1.6m
central Asia to develop an something the public wants to do, Nick Raynsford, president of homes were being refurbished each
integrated approach to river why should they have to pay?” the National Home Improvement year, he said.
management. In a two-year
contract, MacDonald is working
on a 2.3m-euro programme
funded by the EU to integrate
School procurements need to double
water resource and water
quality management, which if growth plans are to be met, MPs say
involves the co-operation of six
countries: Ukraine; Moldova; The number of projects being over 10 to 15 years. That time frame authorities with support; put a cost-
Belarus; Georgia; Armenia; and procured and constructed in Britain has now increased to 18 years, comparison system in place; and
Azerbaijan. under the Building Schools for the with the last school expected to be plan effectively.
Future (BSF) programme needs to completed in 2023 – a timescale “Establishing Partnerships for
Top prize for Arup double, according to MPs. the report describes as “very Schools to manage the programme
The revolutionary approach The Commons Public Accounts challenging”. centrally has helped local authorities
used to model Beijing’s Olympic Committee report argues that the “It is too early to conclude to deliver more effectively, but while
swimming pool, the Water construction of 250 schools a year whether BSF will achieve its Local Education Partnerships have
Cube, has won a UK consultancy from 2011 onwards will be needed, educational objectives,” said the potential advantages, their value for
Britain’s top engineering adding that “current promises to report. “To date, over-optimism has money is yet to be proven,” it adds.
award. Five people at Arup were increase the pace of the programme meant the programme could not Separately, the DCSF announced
awarded the MacRobert prize are not sufficient to meet this”. live up to expectations.” that Partnerships for Schools,
for their work on the project. The Of the 200 schools planned to be The report also criticises the the body overseeing the BSF
Cube was chosen because of the completed by December 2008, only government for failing to: define programme, would take over the
way the building was modelled 42 were finished by that date. the full benefits it wants its BSF management and delivery of all
on a computer, and for its low The Department for Children, programme to achieve; develop any school building and refurbishment
environmental impact. Schools and Families (DCSF) had system against which to measure programmes from this October.
hoped to deliver the programme success; provide schools and local www.publications.parliament.uk
8 CIBSE Journal July 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEjul09 pp08-09 news.indd 8 26/6/09 12:05:42
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