Come and meet us
Opening times
Visit the School
URLAB (Urban Research Laboratory)
Posted on: 27 March 2012
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News
URLAB (Urban Research LAB), launched by Fridbjorg, a member of the Danish Association of Architectural Firms, is a space of inspiration and initiative that examines architecture’s sustainable value creation for human life in urban spaces. URLAB, based In New York, aims to influence a public discourse about architecture and urbanity towards a greater focus on architecture’s impact on human living conditions and social relations, called Human architecture.
Localism Act: Neighbourhood Plans and Community Right To Build – Impact Assessment
Posted on: 27 March 2012
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News
Neighbourhood planning is a new community right introduced by the Localism Act 2011. This document assesses the impact of neighbourhood planning that empowers parish councils and communities to shape the development and growth of their local area through the production of a Neighbourhood Development Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order or where communities wish to bring forward small scale development themselves, to give them a Community Right to Build.
National Planning Policy Framework
Posted on: 27 March 2012
By: mackene
No Comments »
Filed under: News
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) came into effect at 12.30pm on 27 March 2012 for local authorities with no up to date plan. Local authorities with a post-2004 local plan that is broadly in line with the NPPF will be able to use those policies for 12 months. The final version of the NPPF includes:
The definition of sustainable development: this has been strengthened to include the Bruntland definition.
Brownfield first policy: this has been strengthened to prioritise more clearly the use of previously developed land.
Five-year land supply: local authorities with a good track record at allocating land for housing must earmark a five-year supply plus 5%. Others must earmark a five-year supply plus 20%.
The intrinsic value of countryside: this has been included in the NPPF following its removal from the first draft
Town centre first policy: this has been strengthened and office development re-included, with an exemption for rural businesses.
The Construction Index
Posted on: 23 March 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
A new construction magazine, The Construction Index, has been launched, aimed at main contractors, specialist contractors and plant hirers, and many other organisations in the construction supply chain, say its publishers. The magazine is available in print, digital and ‘tablet’ formats. The digital and iPad versions are available free of charge, with the print version distributed free to selected readers.
Low carbon heritage buildings
Posted on: 23 March 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
The Yorkshire and Humber Climate Change Partnership has commissioned a study into reducing carbon emissions from heritage buildings. Written by the consulting engineers Arup, the study comprises two documents. The first contains general guidance on the processes and techniques that can be used to reduce emissions and concentrates on the aspects that require special consideration when dealing with important historic assets. The second contains a series of case studies showing how these techniques can be applied to local buildings. Five Grade II buildings from different sectors were surveyed and recommendations were made on ways to significantly reducing the carbon emissions.
A guide to understanding the embodied impacts of construction products
Posted on: 23 March 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
This guide, produced by the Construction Products Association, aims to improve the understanding of the wider construction industry to the ways in which embodied impacts of construction products are assessed and how this information can then be used for building level design. The Guide discusses what is a Life Cycle Assessment, what are Environmental Product Declarations, what is the significance of the new European Standards CEN/TC 350 and the impact of the Construction Products Regulation, and looks in detail at the range of environmental indicators.
Global Protocol for Community-scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Posted on: 23 March 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group has released a draft edition of the Community Protocol which is designed to help cities around the world measure and report GHG emissions using a more consistent protocol. Comments are requested by 20 April 2012.
European Climate Adaptation Platform (CLIMATE-ADAPT)
Posted on: 23 March 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
The Climate-ADAPT website, developed by the European Commission, is described as the most comprehensive website for information on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in Europe. The website, to be managed by the Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA), is aimed at policy makers, engineers, planners and administrators, who can learn from the experience of others facing similar challenges and already carrying out adaptation actions elsewhere. To highlight the cross-cutting nature of adaptation to climate change, ClimateADAPT is related to other information systems the European Environment Agency manages in close collaboration with the Commission. These include the Biodiversity Information System for Europe, the Water Information System for Europe and the land use data centre.
Temple Avenue Project: Energy efficient new homes for the 21st century
Posted on: 23 March 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
Processes and cultures in the housebuilding industry and its supply chain will have to become more robust if they are to deliver zero carbon homes in 2016, according to a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Research carried out by the foundation shows that design and thermal calculations, and specification, installation and commissioning of mechanical ventilation and other services are among the areas that need to improve.
Consultation on the EU environment policy priorities for 2020: Towards a 7th EU Environment Action Programme
Posted on: 23 March 2012
By: isadm
No Comments »
Filed under: News
The purpose of this consultation is to collect the views of all stakeholders, at EU and national level, and the public at large on the environment policy priorities up to 2020. Comments are requested by 1 June 2012.
What’s new
What’s new and Events presentations archive
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011