Consultancy Services
Planning for Sustainability provides a wide range of services regarding sustainability in spatial planning and project development. Our services include project management and the provision of a wide range of technical studies such as noise assessments, archaeological studies or ecological surveys. In addition to project support we provide strategic advice at a corporate level, including research assignments and capacity building. Below are some examples of the services that we provide.
Project sustainability management
Sustainability is a powerful and far reaching concept that requires local interpretation, definition and articulation. The increasingly higher demands on development projects to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development agenda make an early identification of the constraints, opportunities and requirements essential. Many sustainability requirements have a fundamental influence on certain design elements and delaying the management of sustainability issues to later stages in the development programme can cause significant increase in the risk to a projects development costs and programme.
Planning for Sustainability supports your project with the management of sustainable development at every stage of the project.
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BREEAM Project Management
Achieving the more ambitious levels of the BREEAM methodology requires thorough consideration and careful planning. Early consideration greatly improves the potential of including sustainability measures in a cost effective manner. Planning for Sustainability assigns a BREEAM Accredited Professional to all BREEAM projects supporting planning and design teams delivering the sustainability commitments in an efficient and cost effective manner.
In order to maximize the benefits and cost-effectiveness of sustainability in the design process, consideration to this topic should be an integral part of the design process from its inception. Issues ranging from site selection to the specification of materials from sustainable sources and the management of construction all can contribute to the sustainability credentials of a development project. The late consideration of these issues lead more often than not to significantly higher implementation costs or project delays.
The BRE recognises the importance of the engagement of a sustainability specialist in the early stages of a project and has ammended the section on innovation credits early 2009 to reflect this. The appointment of a BREEAM Accredited Professional at the start of RIBA stage B can potentially be awarded with at least one credit on the formal BREEAM assessment.
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Environmental impact assessment
Planning applications for larger or more complex development proposals are often required by law to be supported by a formal environmental statement. The preparation of such an environmental statement should be based upon a robust environmental impact assessment. A plethora of case law has been established over the years, making it clear that environmental impact assessment should be a thorough process and strongly evidence based.
In delivering environmental impact assessment projects, our focus does not only lie with the technical aspects of the work, we will also advise on project risks (both financial and programme risks) and procurement strategy. Our five-stage approach to environmental impact assessment can efficiently be integrated into the wider management of the project’s sustainability issues.
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Energy statements and energy strategy
Many local authorities have now adopted policies that require that a certain percentage of the energy use of new development will be generated on the site using low or zero carbon technologies. The methodology that the developer proposes to implement to meet this requirement is described in an energy statement.
Planning for Sustainability provides a comprehensive set of services to assist the planning and design of development proposals to meet these requirements.
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Managing climate change in development projects
Climate change is the most dominant issue on the current sustainability agenda. Development projects can provide a significant positive contribution to the way the issue is managed, now and in the future. Although in recent years methods to address climate change within new development have emerged, we believe that the near future will see significant changes in the way climate change is being addressed within development projects.
Planning for Sustainability can provide the expertise that is required to address the issues proactively. Our range of services include:
- Provision of assistance with the development of a corporate strategy to integrate climate change
- Provision of assistance with the development of a training and awareness programme to enhance skills and knowledge about climate change
- Project appraisal with regards to climate change