20 COMMENT; APPOINTMENTS & NEWS
of public funds are allocated, accessed and spent on services like education, health and housing.
Property developers who want planning permission for major house building pro- jects could face a new test being imposed by local councils to assess whether their plans will promote healthier living in local areas and tackle inequalities. Where developments can be shown to deliver “health gains” such as better air quality and healthier lifestyles, they could be granted accelerated planning permission. Writing for the Social Market Foun- dation, Dr Caglar Koksal of Manchester University says good developments can improve residents’ wellbeing and encourage healthier lifestyles, while badly designed buildings can encourage overcrowding and reliance on cars for transport instead of walking or cycling. Overcrowding has already been linked to the spread of diseases including Covid-19, while places with higher rates of car use often have poor air quality and higher rates of obesity.
Local councils with planning powers should set higher health-related standards before giving permission for big developments, Dr Koksal says. But those developments that actively incorporate design features that support healthier lives should be rewarded with
fast-track permission. This can save the developers money. Dr Koksal said: “When the demand for housing remains exceptionally high, developers have very little incentive to promote health with their schemes. The primary concern of most house builders is to deliver profi ts for their investors. However, local authorities can motivate and inspire developers to work together and create healthier places.” Things might be about to change!
HIGHER PRICES FOR HEALTHIER HOMES? The proposed “health gain” could vary by area and include any acute local health issues such as respiratory diseases or obesity. Dr Koksal added that local authorities could set “robust design standards, supported by the ational Planning Policy Framework, to positively in uence design quality. hese could include a well-connected network of attractive, safe, convenient transport
corridors with separated pedestrian and cycle routes, high-quality open and recreational green spaces, and decent homes built to the highest standards. Dr Koksal added: “Delivering healthy homes and high-quality neighbourhoods requires a strong steer from local leaders, who are responsible for establishing a unifying vision for their area and helping planning departments and public health teams inside local authorities work to- gether to implement the shared vision.” James Kirkup, director of the SMF, said that Dr Koksal’s research and ideas could be used to deliver on a key Levelling Up promise of longer, healthier lives. “Giving Britons longer, healthier lives will require making the places we live healthier. The relationship between building, local environment and health is hugely important, and understanding it better is vital to delivering better, healthier lives.” Ministers led by Michael Gove have promised that average Healthy Life Ex- pectancy will rise by fi ve years by 20, with an interim target to narrow the gap between local areas where it is highest and lowest by 200. he ‘6,000 dollar question’ is how much housebuilders will contribute to this, and will buyers pay extra to deliver the funds for developing homes and neighbourhoods that lead to longer and healthier lives?
Transforming the housebuilding sector
BBI Services transform organisations in the housebuilder sector by achieving improved business profitability through productivity and quality improvements, streamlining their operations, offsite and MMC implementations and thorough waste elimination. The BBI Services’ team
work collaboratively with you to inspire and achieve this by developing and enhancing people at all levels, improving processes and embedding a performance mindset. BBI Services will work in partnership with you to identify the issues, develop the solutions and deliver results.
01608 664589
www.bbiservices.com
Win a weekend break for two to Rome or Paris
Prize includes flights, transfers, hotel and spending money. Runners up prizes to be announced. Lecico Bathrooms are a leading UK supplier of bathroom products under the Atlas Trade, Atlas Pro and Design Series brands. Enter the competition by sending in your bathroom design and pictures of the finished project. Your design needs to include some Lecico Bathrooms products. The best design will be chosen by a panel of experts and the winner will be announced in Jan 2023. Closing date for entries is Dec 24th
2022.
For more information on how to enter the competition and for terms and conditions please visit
www.lecico.co.uk/2022designcompetition Lecico BIM models are available on NBS.
01234 244 030
www.lecico.co.uk WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK BD04_Lecico_DPR
VERT.indd 1 11/04/2022 15:27 HBD04_Aqualisa_Appointments &
News_PR.indd 1 04/04/2022 13:51 Aqualisa appoints Mat Norris HBD04_BBI Services_Appointments &
News_PR.indd 1 31/03/2022 14:39
British bathroom specialist Aqualisa has announced the appointment of Mat Norris as Chief Executive Officer. With an extensive career in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, Mat brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles at high-profile organisations including Ford Motor Company, Philips
and most recently, ventilation firm Titon Holdings plc, where he served as UK CEO. Mat will work closely with Aqualisa chairman Kevin Sargeant, and will lead a senior management team of eight specialist executives who have been recruited over the last three years as part of the company’s transformation. Mat has ambitious plans for the growth of the organisation, and will spearhead Aqualisa’s product expansion and innovation strategy.
01959 560010
www.aqualisa.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
