News
After years of heated debate, four
News in brief
eco-towns finally get go-ahead
Councils share £1.7bn
Ten UK local authorities are
n
Only four of the final 11
to share £1.7bn to build or
PA
proposed eco-towns have
rerfurbish more than 6,000
been granted government approval
homes and create thousands
to be built in the UK following years
of jobs in a new Private Finance
of consultations and deliberations.
Initiative deal. The move aims to
Housing Minister John
help regenerate 10 of the most
Healey gave permission for
deprived areas of the country and
the “pioneering” zero-carbon
create 20,000 construction jobs.
developments to go ahead in
Whitehill in Bordon, Hampshire;
Heritage plan under fire
St Austell in Cornwall; Rackheath, English Heritage has attacked
Norwich; and North West Bicester. the UK government’s proposal
However, ministers still want to no longer fully exempt
a total of 10 ec0-towns to be historic buildings from Part L
developed, and some of the of the Building Regulations.
remaining seven not given the The body says the move would
go-ahead this time could gain lead to building control officers
permission at a later date. misunderstanding the concept
Developers must now go through and result in implementation
the normal planning processes and problems.
consultations, with approval resting Protestors oppose the plan for Middle Quinton, which is not among the four chosen
with each local authority. Baxi to merge with rival
The decision follows a number A funding pot worth £5m has The towns will test a wide British heating products
of campaigns against the proposals been earmarked for helping other range of innovative and emerging manufacturer Baxi has agreed
and a High Court battle over the potential areas carry out further technologies, and homes are a merger deal in principle
lawfulness of the government’s assessments and technical work. expected to be fitted with remote with German rival De Dietrich
consultation process. Each development will contain control heating and ventilation, and Remeha Group. Remeha will hold
The judge in the case eventually between 5,000 and 20,000 homes. other features. a majority of the equity in the new
ruled in favour of the government All of the towns’ buildings, including Each home should also combined group.
earlier this year. Eleven areas had commercial, public and domestic, be connected to high-quality
been shortlisted for eco town will have to be zero carbon, broadband. About 40 per cent of New roofing guidance
development. meaning eco-town developers have each town will be green space, and The revised third edition of
Healey said: “Eco towns will to achieve zero carbon a few years all homes will be located within BRE’s Roofs and Roofing has
pioneer genuinely sustainable living, ahead of the government’s existing 10 minutes of frequent public been published. The document
setting standards that will need to targets. transport. Technology will be used contains new coverage of
be followed more widely to deal with For example, each town should to enable all homes to be powered photovoltaic systems, thermal
the challenge of climate change.” have a zero-carbon school in place and heated by energy from the insulation, new materials
The announcement is the first by 2013 – three years ahead of the sun, wind and earth. According to technologies and how to
wave of new carbon-neutral towns government’s existing zero-carbon Healey, all four ecotowns have the accommodate climate change.
proposed, with the government target – and 10,000 homes are capacity to link well into existing
pursuing up to 10 eco-town expected to be built by 2016. Of developments, as well as operate as Training academy launched
developments by 2020. those, 30 per cent will be affordable. a new settlement. A new academy to share best
practice has been launched by
engineering consultancy Hilson
Historic buildings
T
rust
Moran. The Hilson Moran
could get green
Academy brings together a
makeover
National
number of existing training and
development practices at the
The National Trust is
firm.
carrying out feasibility
studies to decide whether
Arup links up with UCL
more of its historic
Consultancy Arup said it had
buildings and castles are
signed an agreeement with
suitable for renewable
University College London
energy developments. The
(UCL) on collaboration on some
assessments of 10 buildings
projects. The memorandum
will analyse the viability of
of understanding will involve
biomass and solar-thermal
researchers working together,
technologies. Buildings
sharing thinking on innovation,
being considered for the
and students spending time in
sustainable measures
both organisations under joint
include Chirk Castle in
doctoral supervision.
Wrexham, pictured.
www.cibsejournal.com August 2009 CIBSE Journal 7
CIBSEaug09 pp06-07 news.indd 7 24/7/09 13:05:08
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