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Plan for research hub
A new hub for environmental
research and knowledge is to be
designed by building services
engineers and architect, BDP.
Once constructed, the 3,000
sq m research institute for the
University of Exeter, in Falmouth,
will research clean technologies,
the natural environment and
systematic socio-economics.
Davis and DEGW merge
Property and construction
consultancy Davis Langdon has
announced it is to merge with
space planning consultants A large number of opposed wind farms are approved on appeal, says the report
DEGW. According to Davis
Langdon, the move will enhance
its international services. DEGW
has offices in the UK, mainland
England misses target
Europe, Asia, Australia and
North America.
for renewable electricity
Build up your skills
Built environment professionals
who are unemployed, expecting capacity approved, meaning
to be made redundant or n
England is likely to hit only both Scotland and Northern
half its renewable electricity Ireland are set to outstrip their the UK’s 10 per cent figure will
on reduced working hours generation targets by 2010, own targets. eventually be met, albeit with a
can reskill on the University according to a report by a wind A slow and ineffective local significant delay.
of Westminster’s Build Up energy trade association. planning system is blamed for Maria McCaffery, BWEA chief
programme. Free places are The British Wind Energy hampering efforts in England and executive, said: “If we want to use
available between now and Association (BWEA) found Wales, with wind farm planning 2010 as a dry run for [the EU’s
September 2010. that of the eight regions across applications taking an average of binding] 2020 [target], timeliness
www.wmin.ac.uk England, on average only half will 14 months. Statutory guidelines and political initiative would be
reach their voluntary 10 per cent state they should take 16 weeks. the two key lessons we should
£51m for green technologies renewable electricity generation The report also shows that implement.
Interest-free loans worth target by 2010. around a half of wind farm “A clear schedule of
more than £51m are being Some regions, such as the applications taken to appeal are implementation backed by central
made available to public South West, will fail to reach even then approved, raising doubts government, with a system
sector organisations to install a third. about the ability of local planning of checks and balances as we
energy efficient technologies. The report, England’s Regional authorities to deliver the nation’s appoach 2020, will be crucial if we
The project, funded by the Renewable Energy Targets: Progress renewables programme. want to join the renewable energy
government and the Carbon Report, shows that overall the UK According to the report, there revolution, and not be laggards in
Trust, could help public sector target will only be met because is enough renewable generating Europe.” www.bwea.com
bodies, such as hospitals,
leisure centres and local
authorities, save around
BRE tackles code certification delays
£14 million per year in energy
bills. Around 80 different energy The Buildings Research Quality Assurance required for and Local Government said:
efficient technologies are Establishment (BRE) has boosted design stage assessments”. “Post construction certificates
available. its staff and their training in BRE has now increased staff are being issued within agreed
order to combat delays in issuing numbers and training, although it timescales, and the department is
NG Bailey disclosure move certificates under the Code for does stress that a full audit could working with the Buildings
Engineering consultancy Sustainable Homes. take longer than expected to be Research Establishment (BRE) and
NG Bailey has agreed to Talks have been taking place in reviewed. other stakeholders to ensure that
publicly disclose its economic, recent weeks between government, It expects that where an the approvals system for design
environmental and social BRE, and housebuilders relating assessment is not selected for stage assessors runs as smoothly
performance annually. The to the amount of time it has been a credit check or full audit, a as possible.”
scheme, called the Global taking for certificates under the certificate will be issued within a The Code for Sustainable
Reporting Initiative, provides code to be issued. matter of days, and feedback will be Homes became operational in
a framework for making public In advice sent to assessors, given on post-construction stage England in April 2007 and a code
an organisation’s sustainability BRE said a significant increase in assessments within two weeks. rating for new build homes became
progress. the number of assessments was A spokesman for the mandatory from May 2008.
impacting on “the timescales for Department for Communities www.bre.co.uk
8 CIBSE Journal September 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEsep09 pp08-09 news.indd 8 20/8/09 19:42:07
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