Planning

There is huge potential to reduce the negative environmental impact of buildings through careful design, construction and renovation. A little bit of thought can go a long way and there are also opportunities to reduce costs and improve building comfort. Aspects of environmentally sustainable design and construction to consider include:

  • Maximising the use of natural systems e.g. sunlight for warmth and light.
  • Improving energy efficiency and making use of renewable energy technology.
  • Conserving water and minimising flood risk.
  • Using materials with a high recycled content and sourced locally to cut down on transport emissions.
  • Enhancing biodiversity e.g. by incorporating green roofs.

Advice to householders: sustainable development

Guidance on how sustainable design and construction can be applied when building an extension or carrying out other external alteration works to your home is available:

Section 2 provides a schedule of potential measures that can be undertaken as well as a checklist (Appendix B) which can be completed and returned to Richmond Council for monitoring purposes.

Sustainable Construction Checklist

The Sustainable Construction Checklist describes the key principles of sustainable design and construction Richmond Council expects all architects and contractors to follow. Whilst aimed specifically at schemes of five or more residential units and major commercial developments (Department for Communities and Local Governement definition), Richmond Council encourages the application of the principles it contains to all development proposals. It also provides useful sources of further information and support services.

Microgeneration

In England, changes to permitted development rights for renewable technologies introduced on 6 April 2008 have lifted the requirements for planning permission for most microgeneration technologies.

For further information and advice visit the our Planning pages or contact the Planning Team on 0845 612 2660.

Alternatively you can email your enquiry to us at envprotection@richmond.gov.uk.