Product category:
Building Trade Associations and Institutes
News Release from: NHBC | Subject: Mixed-use developments
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 08 June 2005
NHBC solution to mixed-use development
Mixed-use developments are increasingly becoming centrepieces of the UK's inner cities.
Mixed-use developments are increasingly becoming centrepieces of the UK's inner cities These types of development have won favour with planning authorities as they make optimum use of the site, regenerating the area whilst minimising transport requirements
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 11 Jul 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Improving standards of health and safety
A major drive to improve standards of health and safety in the Scottish house building industry has been launched.
New approach to site supervision NVQ
New approach to site supervision NVQ could halve time to qualification, says NHBC
NHBC has helped a John Sisk and Son development achieve its sustainability credentials.
Mixed-use developments are presenting a new challenge to the construction industry from the point of view of sustainability.
Their designs must now comply with the statutory requirements for both residential and commercial space, which create different kinds of impacts on the global and local environment.
Further reading
NHBC simple steps to cut deaths on site.
Following recent accidents involving vehicles on the worksite, NHBC has drawn up a list of tips which should be followed to ensure health and safety.
Steps to avoid falls from height consequences
Government's focus on cutting fatalities and injuries caused from falls at height has prompted NHBC to offer simple advice to prevent tragic accidents on site.
Industry first prompts zero tolerance on accidents
Keepmoat Regeneration has received NHBC's Health and Safety Accreditation for the third year running - an industry first.
When a John Sisk and Son bid to turn a car park in central Milton Keynes into a GBP3.7m office and apartment complex was accepted by English Partnerships, the development agency asked them to undertake an environmental assessment of the building.
The developer turned to NHBC to help them achieve their targets as the development was a mix of both commercial and residential space, requiring them to have both a BREEAM Offices and EcoHomes' assessment.
BREEAM is the Building Research Establishment's family of environmental assessments, which rates the environmental performance of a wide range of new and refurbished buildings.
Recognised as the UK construction industry's benchmark of environmental performance, it can enable the environmental impact of a development to be reduced, whilst also generating benefits.
These range from reduced running costs, improved internal environment, increased marketability, to compliance with planning requirements.
A rating of 'Pass', 'Good', 'Very Good' or 'Excellent' can be achieved and is based on performance against a range of criteria relating to environmental impact, including energy consumption, pollution and use of materials.
BREEAM Offices is the assessment for office developments.
NHBC's Energy and Environmental Manager, Christine Smith, explains, "This was the first BREEAM assessment to be introduced and is now well established in the industry".
"EcoHomes is the corresponding assessment for residential dwellings - including both houses and apartments".
"English Partnerships required the development to achieve a 'Good' rating for the EcoHomes assessment, and a 'Very Good' rating for the BREEAM assessment".
" To help them achieve this, NHBC worked closely with John Sisk and Son's Senior Contract Manager, Julian Stansfield, to ensure the project met these standards.
He said: "We selected NHBC because of its ability to offer Building Control inspection, building warranty cover, as well as both the BREEAM and EcoHomes assessments." The development itself consists of a ground floor of offices and parking spaces, with additional office space on the first floor.
Above this are three storeys of residential dwellings made up of 24 one and two bedroom apartments.
Through consultation with NHBC's environmental assessors, John Sisk and Son introduced many new elements into their design to enable the relevant ratings to be achieved.
Points were achieved in both the BREEAM and EcoHomes assessment due to the development's proximity to excellent public transport links, with regular bus services encouraging residents and office workers to leave the car behind.
Further EcoHomes points were achieved due to the close proximity to local amenities.
Christine Smith says; "The site also scored well in terms of ecological enhancement, with a registered ecological assessor providing advice on how to maximise the ecological value of the site by, for example, specifying native species of plants for the landscaping".
" In addition John Sisk and Son selected construction materials which would help minimise the impact of the building on the environment.
Timber and timber products from a sustainable certified source were used for the main building elements and 'A'-rated construction types from the relevant version of the BRE's Green Guide to Specification specified for the roof, and internal and external walls.
The development also scored well for water use, with dual-flush WCs and other water-saving devices specified for both the residential and commercial space, and recycling of waste materials, with storage space complementing the local authority's regular collection.
The apartments have energy-efficient white goods and light fittings installed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Private balconies ensure that an external space is available, despite its central urban location.
In the office space, controls were introduced to minimise energy consumption due to the lighting.
During the construction phase, John Sisk and Son were registered under the Considerate Constructors Scheme and BREEAM credits were achieved by attaining a high level of performance under this scheme.
Julian Stansfield said: "With the Government's push to reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions, developers are being challenged to make energy efficiency a priority".
"The northern region of John Sisk and Son is traditionally involved in office building and we were very familiar with the BREEAM process".
"However, with the Milton Keynes mixed project it was useful to have an assessor on board who could offer a package of services, including the EcoHomes report".
"" He continues: "NHBC was much more helpful in ensuring we met English Partnership requirements compared with other assessors in the marketplace".
"The assessment was thorough and the consultation ensured we could gauge where we needed to gain points and guarantee the project met our client's specification." The Central Milton Keynes project was completed in April 2005.
• NHBC: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Buildingtalk email newsletter
• Buildingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
