Breeam Domestic Refurbishments
It would appear that several boroughs have started introducing a planning condition that asks of projects to achieve BREEAM excellent ( in line with Breeam Domestic refurbishments 2014 document) even in the context of rather small planning applications.
Having reached out to specialists, the consensus seem to be that the chosen vehicle to deliver the Local Authorities' green agenda does not suit smaller scales and therefore a rethink might be required.
Our director Cristina has written her thoughts on this matter:
"For what it is worth, my personal view is that rather than the intended result, the consequences of setting unattainable goals will lead both to an increase in unlawful development and paperwork for planners to deal with .
What I feel would bring better results (in the context on Net Zero and the existing stock) is finding ways to get home owners on board with assessing their homes by involving them in the discussion and encouraging them to plan a phased implementation of upgrades. Then to incentivise the implementation by providing continuous support through access to knowledge and funding.
I have found that many discussions around these matters focus on the benefits that follow a full implementation and don't create opportunity for a phased approach, and in doing so, they are mostly forgetting to consider the affordability of the implementation.
This is something that in the context of commercial development can be quantified and addressed "commercially". In the context of the existing housing stock and the current cost of living crisis, on the other hand, it will likely result in inaction, and this is not what we need in my opinion."
If you are interested in retrofitting your home for it to run more efficiently, Atelier EURA has access to the knowledge and experience to help you plan an implementable strategy. We can also discuss any proposals that may require planning, in detail ,with your Local Authority through the mechanism offered by pre-applications.