Download Environmental sustainability and the built environment

Environmental sustainability and the built environment
This paper sets out CABE’s perspective on the ability of well designed built
environments to contribute to the delivery of sustainable development, and
environmental sustainability in particular. It outlines our priorities for addressing this
issue and should be read in conjunction with our current corporate strategy,
Transforming Neighbourhoods.
Background
In Towards an Urban Renaissance the
Urban Task Force identified how English
towns and cities could respond to the
challenges of the late twentieth century
by creating compact urban forms that
support economic prosperity, are
environmentally responsible and promote
social integration. This vision has and
continues to provide a major focus for
CABE’s work. We recognise that true
sustainability will only be achieved
through a holistic approach, which gives
equal consideration to all three elements.
‘High quality design ensures usable,
durable and adaptable places and is a
key element in achieving sustainable
development.’ (Draft PPS1)
‘Thriving regions, cities, towns, villages
and neighbourhoods are fundamental to
quality of life. Strong economies,
employment opportunities, good access
to services, and attractive and safe
surroundings are vital for their
sustainable development. We need to
achieve these in ways which make good
use of natural resources, protect the
environment and promote social
cohesion.’ (A Better Quality of Life: A
Strategy for Sustainable
Development for the UK, May 1999)
However, with such a complex subject
area it is often necessary to consider
specific issues individually. This paper
considers how CABE can promote
understanding and encourage better use
of the built environment as a means of delivering environmental sustainability.
Fundamentally, CABE believes that environmentally sustainable urban design will:
• Where possible re-use land and buildings, treating contaminated land where
necessary
• Preserve and develop ecosystems and biodiversity
• Create sustainable local developments that mix uses, integrate public
transport and encourage walking and cycling
• Be designed for longevity, flexibility and adaptability, with an understanding of
the possible effects of climate change
We also believe that an environmentally sustainable building will:
• Minimise energy use, pollution, waste and water use
• Recycle materials during construction and use
• Use low environmental impact materials, from renewable sources where
possible
• Be durable and able to adapt to the future needs of users
• Be managed to ensure sustainable design features are used effectively
CABE is just one of a range of organisations that has an influence over England’s
urban environments. Our remit concentrates largely on new build, a small
percentage of the total building stock, and we acknowledge that improvements to
the existing building stock will also be essential if we are to deliver environmental
sustainability.
The amendment of Part L of the Building Regulations is a welcome example of how
government can raise standards of both new and existing buildings. We advocate
continued exploration of how regulation, fiscal incentives and where necessary
legislation can contribute to sustainable development.
Promoting environmental sustainability
To make best use of our resources, CABE will work in partnership with others and
focus our efforts on a limited number of specific issues:
1. Integrating design quality with sustainability
2. The need to reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption
3. Environmental sustainability at neighbourhood levels
1. Integrating design quality with sustainability
A recent survey by the Green Alliance examining the ability of PFI to deliver
sustainability found that ‘efforts to improve design quality have not yet fully
integrated sustainability priorities’ and highlighted the need to ‘clarify that design
quality should deliver environmental goals’.1
Across CABE’s work programme we will continue to argue that sustainability is an
intrinsic element of a balanced design approach that considers build quality,
functionality, impact and whole life values. We will:
• Research how well designed buildings and places generate social, economic
and environmental value, enabling us to argue the business case for an
investment in high quality sustainable design.
• Promote the need for well-designed, sustainable public buildings through the
Better Public Buildings Initiative, recognising success through the annual
Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award
(www.betterpublicbuildings.org.uk).
• Work with ODPM, DTI and DEFRA to ensure the Code for Sustainable
Buildings, being prepared in response to the recommendations of the
Sustainable Buildings Task Group, makes proper consideration of design
issues.
2. The need to reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption
This is perhaps the most pressing and high profile environmental concern. The
construction and servicing of buildings is responsible for approximately 50% of UK
carbon emissions. Improving the energy efficiency of new and existing stock is
therefore essential if we are to achieve the government’s target of a 60% reduction
in CO2 emissions by 2050.2
1
2
Green Alliance, 18 May 2004
Better Buildings Summit Issues Paper 21 October 2003
The imminent introduction of building labelling as a result of the EU Energy Directive
will increase public, government and industry interest and awareness of the role that
the built environment can play in reducing energy use. Through our Design Review
and Enabling Programmes we will encourage the development of energy efficient
designs in both public and private building projects by:
• Ensuring the Design Review and Enabling Panels have sufficient expertise of
sustainability issues to provide practical support to those seeking their advice.
• Enabling public sector clients to demand low energy design from designers
and contractors.
• Through Design Review we will encourage consideration of issues relating to
energy and CO2 at the design stage, making public the committee’s concerns
on the environmental impact of schemes when appropriate.
3. Environmental sustainability at neighbourhood levels
Buildings and urban design can encourage living and working patterns that require
less car use, reduce consumption of natural resources, increase biodiversity through
the provision of urban green space and reduce surface water runoff. We will
promote proper consideration of spatial sustainability issues (such as optimising
density and mixed use) by:
• Continuing to campaign to ensure that design quality is fully considered in the
development and implementation of planning policy3, commenting on draft
Planning Policy Statements and advising on appropriate policies for regional
and local strategies.
• Promoting the Building for Life Standard (www.buildingforlife.org) as best
practice, recognising schemes that offer good placemaking, accessibility and a
mixed community as well as high environmental performance. Through The
Home Buyer’s Guide (www.thehomebuyersguide.org) we will provide
consumers with the information they need to give proper consideration to
sustainability issues when purchasing a new home.
• Encouraging local authorities to undertake green space strategies to design,
plan, manage and maintain their green spaces along sustainable principles.
This work will be supported by the production of new guidance on park
management and biodiversity and the promotion of the Green Flag Award
Scheme (www.greenflagaward.org.uk).
CABE is ideally positioned to promote the need for sustainable cities,
neighbourhoods, buildings and spaces. We can do this both strategically and at the
level at which projects are delivered. We will use this position to maximise the
opportunity for current levels of investment in public buildings and housing to deliver
sustainability; encouraging local, regional and national government, other Non
Departmental Public Bodies and agencies, and the private sector to put this issue at
the top of their agendas.
CABE
November 2004
3
Delivering sustainable development is now the statutory purpose of the planning system