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Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012: Final stage impact assessment
Posted on: 8 November 2012
By: mackene
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The Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012 sets out those circumstances in which accommodation used for the private rented sector offer to end the main homelessness duty is not to be regarded as suitable. It strengthens the requirements in relation to location and suitability when local authorities secure accommodation for the use of households owed duties under the homelessness legislation. This final stage Impact Assessment considers the potential impacts of the Order, looking at the costs and benefits to homeless households, landlords, local authorities and Government.
Supplementary guidance on the homelessness changes in the Localism Act 2011 and on the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012
Posted on: 8 November 2012
By: mackene
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This statutory guidance explains the changes that the Localism Act 2011 makes to the homelessness legislation. It also provides guidance on the Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012. This supplements parts of the Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities published in July 2006.
Berlin park wins award for its soundscape design
Posted on: 8 November 2012
By: mackene
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A German consortium led by the Technical University of Berlin won the European Soundscape Award 2012 for the remodelling of Nauener Platz, a city park in Berlin. The winning project had a highly participatory approach, involving residents and people working in the area. Ideas for creating a new attractive park were collected through public discussions and workshops. The people behind the project also organised ’sound walks’ so local people could identify the noisy areas to be considered in the reconstruction of the park’s soundscape. Although traffic can still be heard in Nauener Platz, users feel that the park has a much more pleasant atmosphere. This was achieved by installing devices in sculptures and benches playing recorded sounds of birds and water. The consortium also built a 1.5 m sound barrier made of stone and plants at one side of the park close to playground. Benches for parents were situated directly behind the wall to increase the noise reduction effect. The redesign of the park also included more attractive playgrounds, sports areas and green spaces which increased the lively sounds from human activities.
Urban Street Design Guide
Posted on: 8 November 2012
By: mackene
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The National Organization of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), a network of large American city transportation departments, has published an urban Street Design Guide, which charts the design principles and strategies that cities are adopting to confront 21st Century demands on their streets. It is based on the fundamental idea that streets are spaces for people as well as arteries for traffic. The guide is rooted in on-the-ground, built projects and great streets, and reflects international best practices and research in urban design, planning and engineering.
Green design and advanced construction and building technology
Posted on: 7 November 2012
By: mackene
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The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) has published proceedings from the following two recent events. Please note that these files may take a long time to download.:
Green Design Conference. Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina, 27-30 September 2012
The emphasis of the conference of the CIB Working Group W115 on Construction Materials Stewardship was on innovative design and construction methods and assessment methods that incorporate effective use of materials into the whole life cycle of buildings and building materials. Also new energy concepts and mobility strategies were presented. Proceedings are available online.
Advanced construction and building technology for society. Munich, 24 October 2012
This volume contains from a workshop of the CIB Working Commission W119 on Customised Industrial Construction. This event considered automation and robotics in construction in the belief that industrialization in construction will become more customer oriented. Concepts of mass customization can be implemented via the application of robots in construction and building project/product life cycle as prefabrication processes, on site and in service as socio technical systems.
Fiscal arrangements and planning decisions in Italy, the UK and the Netherlands
Posted on: 7 November 2012
By: mackene
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The report looks at the three different local fiscal arrangements with regard to the raising of revenues through urban development in European countries (the UK, the Netherlands and Italy. Topics covered include: Fiscal tools which aim to increase local revenues; Fiscal tools which aim to increase housing production; Fiscal/planning tools which aim to limit consumption of greenfield land/promote regeneration. Registration required to download the document.
Raising the bar: Enhancing the strategic role of facilities management
Posted on: 7 November 2012
By: mackene
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This report considers what “being strategic” really means; and it also takes a hard look at the current “state of the practice” of facilities management (FM). The research behind the report draws on a survey completed by almost 400 FM professionals across six continents. Registration required to download the document.
Low carbon bus calculator
Posted on: 7 November 2012
By: mackene
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This toolkit is designed to be used by bus operators and local authorities to calculate the likely benefits on investing in a low carbon emission bus.
Improving energy efficiency in buildings: Resources guide for local authorities
Posted on: 7 November 2012
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This guide has been developed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Communities and Local Government. It is intended to act as a resource for local authority personnel who are involved in climate change mitigation in the built environment to support the planning and delivery of projects. Local authorities are uniquely placed to assess the needs of their local areas and residents and to act as catalysts for change to improve the energy efficiency of, and reduce carbon emissions from buildings. These resources can support that role. This collection of resources will also support local authorities as they prepare reports required by new guidance under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 on measures they propose to take to significantly improve the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in their areas.
BIM and the new projects control role
Posted on: 7 November 2012
By: mackene
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This blog reflects on implementation barriers to BIG BIM. Building Information Modelling (BIM) brings together electronic construction information into a single integrated database, encouraging a more integrated approach to design and construction. BIG BIM utilizes and develops this data from validation of the project through to operation of the facility, optimizing performance at every stage.
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