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LABMONLINE.CO.UK

JULY/AUGUST 2022

LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

BROWNFIELD: PIECING IT TOGETHER Mike Salter, Group Development Director at SCAPE, outlines what local authorities should consider when developing brownfield strategies to deliver on levelling up ambitions GETTING READY FOR AN ELECTRIC FUTURE Sevadis discusses the future of EV charging and the role of local authorities and social housing providers in its delivery

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CONTENTS

July/August 2022 Vol.38 No.4

REGULARS 5 Comment All Change 6 News L&Q secures sustainability-linked loan — local area energy planning guidance — Building safety CPD training 8 Project Update Seddon on track to deliver £100m in social housing — Stonewater starts work on Worcester affordable housing development — Notting Hill Genesis’ Development Contractors Framework 10 Industry Comment Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), discusses private rent reform and what it means for councils SPECIAL REPORTS 12 Brownfield: Piecing it Together Developing brownﬁeld strategies to capture funding and deliver on the Government’s levelling up ambitions 16 Driving Regeneration Through Collaborative Development The importance of placemaking-led regeneration and collaborative partnerships 18 Getting Ready for an Electric Future The future of EV charging and the crucial role of local authorities and social housing providers

Employing healthy design principles on education projects to deliver healthier environments SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

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DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE

23 Building Healthy Educational Facilities Incorporating healthy design principles into schools to improve staff and student wellbeing 26 Circular Lighting Design How circular lighting principles are helping to deliver energy savings at Manchester Town Hall

39 Fire Safety Compliance Irwell Valley Homes ﬁre door installation case study 42 A Window on Successful Collaboration High performance PVC-U window profiles selected for major housing refurbishment project in Birmingham 44 Round-up

14 Guest Comment Nikkie Pullen, Organisational Development Manager at Abri, discusses why training and personal development is central to quality social housing

28 Interpreting Acoustic Legislation for Education Legislation and acoustic performance requirements for school buildings

20 Legal Update Winckworth Sherwood considers whether rent reforms will drive up demand for social housing

30 Advertisement Feature Dulux Trade’s new Sterishield Dual Active Matt brings anti-viral and anti-bacterial protection to the healthcare sector

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION 46 Digital Twins Using Digital Twin technology to unlock sustainability in retroﬁt 48 Building a Bigger, Greener Legacy Civica’s latest survey of housing providers and residents 50 Round-up

32 Understanding the Protect Duty The Protect Duty legislation and requirements for local authorities

Placemaking-led regeneration

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34 Sustainable Building Objectives The importance of knowing the embodied carbon content of products 37 Round-up

Fire door installations

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

Editor Claire Clutten labm@hamerville.co.uk Advertisement Manager Jacob Tatum jtatum@hamerville.co.uk Northern & Midland Area Sales Eddie Wright ewright@hamerville.co.uk Group Advertising Manager Craig Jowsey Digital Group Manager Stuart Duff Digital Assistant David Molloy Design Adeel Qadri Group Production Manager Carol Padgett Production Assistant Claire Swendell Circulation Manager Kirstie Day Managing Editor Terry Smith Printed by WALSTEAD ROCHE Published by Hamerville Media Group Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts WD24 4YF 01923 237799 Email: labm@hamerville.co.uk

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All change Speaking at Housing 2022 in June, former Housing Minister Stuart Andrew MP said: “When I arrived at the department, one thing was abundantly clear from the start, we have a huge challenge on our hands, and we will not get to where we need to be on housing without big ideas, big thinking and big policies to match.” He concluded his speech saying: “In the words of the great social activist Helen Keller, ‘Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much’... I look forward to working with you in the moments to come.” At the conference the Housing Minister’s speech was pulled forward from Thursday to Wednesday. During the ‘Drinks with the Minister’ at the end of Wednesday, Stewart Andrew MP apologised for having to leave early, citing unavoidable parliamentary commitments. A week later he resigned from his post, along with over 50 other MPs calling for Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister, which he did from a lectern in front of No 10 on Thursday 7th July. Back in February, David Orr CBE and former Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation tweeted about Stewart Andrew’s appointment as Housing Minister, writing: “It’s always a joy to have a new Housing Minister. We know he will be thrilled with the job, passionate about increasing supply, excited about levelling up, committed to improving opportunities for homeless. And then will move on before Summer...” His words seem almost prophetic, but really, given the revolving door of Housing Ministers, 20 since 1997, it’s a fair assessment. At the time of writing, Stewart Andrew MP has been replaced by Marcus Jones, MP for Nuneaton, with Greg Clark being appointed as the new Housing Secretary following the sacking of Michael Gove MP. The sector faces a myriad of challenges — the need to improve the quality of existing social housing and repairs services for tenants, as well as bourgeoning housing waiting lists and the need to tackle the chronic undersupply of affordable housing. Building safety issues are still ongoing, net zero is on the agenda, all of which require serious sums of investment and the country is in the grips of a cost-of-living crisis. The impact of the cost-of-living crisis on social housing residents is highlighted in The Resident Voice Index report ‘Surviving but not living’.

Over the last year a number of shocking disrepair cases have come to light, where residents have been severely let down by their housing providers. A particularly notable case reported in the news involved a social housing resident living in accommodation overrun with vermin, where the damp and mould was so severe she had to wear a respiratory mask when inside her flat. This is heartbreaking and simply not acceptable.

Hopefully this political “uncertainty and turmoil will only be of short duration... ”

There were some frank words spoken at Housing 2022. In the ‘An honest conversation: what needs to change and what do we need to do differently?’ session, former President of the Chartered Institute of Housing, Alison Inman, a Board Member at Tpas, Saffron Housing Trust and the Housing Diversity Network, and co-Founder of SHOUT, said: “If we can’t house people properly, we shouldn’t be trusted to build more homes.” Strong words but it’s a fair point. This level of honesty is important. There are numerous examples of exemplar projects where social housing providers are leading the way in key areas, such as sustainability, but areas where significant improvements are needed must not be overlooked. One of the key takeaways from Housing 2022 is that of a sector committed to tackling inequalities and striving for better, to deliver for local communities. What we need is stability and a focused government to help the sector tackle the challenges head on. Hopefully this political uncertainty and turmoil will only be of short duration and soon we will have a fully functioning government ready to work alongside industry bodies, councils and housing associations to help the sector address the key issues and support them to deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve. LABMONLINE.CO.UK

JULY/AUGUST 2022

LOCAL AUTHOR ITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

SCHOOLS, HOSPITA LS

& PUBLIC BUILDIN GS

DOORS, WINDOW S & HARDWARE DIGITAL TRANSF ORMATION

COVER STORY: BROWNFIELD: PIECING Mike Salter, Group IT TOGETHER Development Director what local authorities at SCAPE, outlines brownfield strategies should consider when developing to deliver on levelling up ambitions

Higgins has been announced as one of the preferred developers on Notting Hill Genesis’ Development Contractors Framework. Details on page 9.

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GETTING READY FOR AN ELECTRIC Sevadis discusses FUTURE the future of EV charging and the local authorities and social housing role of providers in its delivery

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2022

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NEWS IN BRIEF

L&Q Barking site

Strategic Place Partnership Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) have entered into a Strategic Place Partnership (SPP), piloting a new model for partnership working between the Government’s housing and regeneration agency and local authorities. Homes England is also testing the pilot programme with the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA). The model is aimed at sub-regions with the most ambitious proposals for housing growth as part of their broader social, environmental and economic vision for the area. Importantly they must also have a strong pipeline of potential opportunities to deliver these ambitions. The SPP is then centred around a shared business plan that sets out special and thematic priorities. In Greater Manchester, this means a shared focus on the delivery of growth locations, affordable housing and town centre regeneration.

Dynamic Simulation Modelling Glasgow-based climate tech ﬁrm, IES, has developed a new Dynamic Simulation Modelling Guide to support building designers in meeting the Scottish Futures Trust’s Net Zero Public Sector Buildings (NZPSB) Standard. The Scottish Government-approved Standard aims to help public bodies to meet their net zero commitments for any new-build and major refurbishment projects, with a central principle of veriﬁcation to ensure the project goals are achieved. The Dynamic Simulation Modelling Guide forms part of a suite of official supporting documentation, and signals an important step change to the way modelling is performed on public sector buildings in Scotland. Encouraging greater modelling detail and project stakeholder collaboration, the guide aspires to move the sector away from the traditional ‘modelling for compliance’ approach, whereby models are simply created to pass Building Regulations. More information is available here: https://www.iesve.com

L&Q secures sustainability-linked loan The deal will transition the housing association’s existing funding to a sustainability-linked loan, L&Q’s largest to date. It will be used to deliver more sustainable, affordable housing, reduce scope one and two emissions by 20% by 2024 and achieve L&Q’s ambitions to hit net zero by 2050. The funding, which is the largest sustainability linked facility Lloyds Bank has provided the UK housing sector to date, offers margin discounts based on L&Q achieving two key performance indicators (KPIs). The ﬁrst KPI is to achieve an average EPC C rating on all homes by April 2024, reducing carbon and lowering fuel costs for residents. This will complement the

association’s five-year plan to develop an L&Q-led design standard that meets the Government’s Future Homes Standards The second KPI requires that half of the planned 8,000 new homes L&Q build by 2024 will be ‘affordable’ and acts as interim progressive targets to achieving its longer-term aims of delivering 30,000 new homes by 2030. Martin Watts, Director of Treasury finance at L&Q, says: “This funding will help us on our net zero journey, allow us to achieve the objectives of our corporate strategy and have a positive impact on our residents. Only by working closely with finance providers will we create a more sustainable sector, and we are committed to doing that alongside Lloyds Bank.”

Commitment to waste reduction Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottingham County Council and public sector procurement specialist SCAPE, has joined the Construction Waste Portal to reduce the volume of waste created by its construction activity. The Construction Waste Portal is an innovative platform that enables the public sector and construction industry to predict, plan and prevent waste through intelligent data use from almost 1,000 completed infrastructure projects across the UK. Joining the Construction Waste Portal will enable Arc Partnership to minimise the environmental impact of construction projects being delivered on behalf of the

County Council, as well as deliver cost savings that can be used for reinvestment in other local authority projects. All of Arc’s partners that are part of SCAPE’s construction framework have now signed up to use the Construction Waste Portal for Nottinghamshire County Council projects. In addition, Arc Partnership will work with its SME delivery partners on its secondgeneration General Building framework, which will deliver £17m-worth of construction and retrofitting projects for the Council over the next four years, to engage them with the Construction Portal where appropriate.

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DIARY DATES

Local area energy planning guidance

National Housing Summit 2022

Clean technology innovation hub Energy Systems Catapult has published comprehensive guidance to help local authorities create a local area energy plan (LAEP) and deliver on their climate emergency declarations and Net Zero goals. The purpose of the guidance, which is funded by Innovate UK as part of the Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PfER) programme, is to enable LAEPs to be delivered to a consistent standard across the UK, allowing LAEPs from neighbouring areas to be compared, and for multiple plans to be aggregated across a region. Alongside the LAEP guidance the Energy Systems Catapult is also publishing a report ‘Building a Governance Framework for Local Area Energy Planning’, which explores how coordinated local area energy planning could deliver significant financial benefits on the road to Net Zero. The report, also Innovate UK-funded, finds that coordinated local area energy planning — rather than an organic, uncoordinated approach — could give cost savings in the order of 1% GDP or £252bn between 2025 and 2050. It recommends that a statutory duty should

be put on local planning authorities to enable a more strategic approach to Net Zero, and that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) should do more to support Net Zero — including establishing LAEPs as a recognised evidence base. The guidance provides stage by stage, step by step advice on what to do when creating a LAEP, including detailed preparation work, suggested data collection and analysis, complex modelling activity and — ﬁnally — how to create a plan. The full LAEP guidance is available on Energy Systems Catapult’s website here www.rdr.link/lae031 The ‘Building a Governance Framework for Local Area Energy Planning’ report is available to download here www.rdr.link/lae001

Ofgem’s vision welcome step Responding to Ofgem's newly published ‘five-year vision for building sustainable and affordable regional energy grids, supporting a low carbon, cheaper future for the UK’, Polly Billington, Chief Executive of UK100, says: "We are delighted to see Ofgem credit UK100 as one of the reasons it has set out a vision for a future-proof energy system that places local and regional leaders at its core. We have long advocated for a decentralised energy system that works with local authorities and for local communities. It's great to see this reflected in Ofgem's plans. "That the vision also recognises flexibility is key and the commitment to deliver a £2.7bn investment in upgrading the network to support electric vehicle

expansion, heat pump roll-out, and more local, renewable energy generation is also welcome. "Ultimately, after only recently recognising our energy system is not ﬁt for purpose, Ofgem has taken a vital step towards a necessary overhaul. By recognising the power of local and the need for long-term, integrated planning, their vision has laid solid foundations for concrete action. "With the latest Climate Change Committee report highlighting the UK Government's failure to deliver against ambitious targets, we should not underestimate the value of Net Zero proposals that have a clear strategy for turning words into action."

Taking place on the 12th and 13th September at The ICC in Birmingham, the National Housing Summit will address the issues facing housing associations and residents across the country. The event provides a forum for housing association leaders to come together and help shape the future of housing. The comprehensive programme includes sessions looking at the current social and economic environment, recovery from the pandemic, the impact of high inﬂation on the sector and the cost-of-living crisis. There will also be sessions tackling homelessness, housing refugee and newly arrived migrant communities, asset management and housing quality, as well as resident engagement. More details about the event and link to register here www.rdr.link/lae002

Building safety CPD training The recent passage of the Building Safety Act is a welcome recognition of the fact that making safe buildings is a highly skilled operation, says the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, endorsing the need for more effective regulation and a profound change in culture. The most fundamental reform to Building Regulations for decades, the Act creates a new Building Safety Regulator and introduces a more rigorous regime for the planning, design, construction and operation of higher risk buildings. In many cases, these changes have been needed for years. CIBSE is committed to working with its members, their employers, government, including the new Building Safety Regulator, BSI as the National Standards Body and all interested parties to deliver a system of building legislation that delivers safe and sustainable buildings. CIBSE’s Introduction to the Building Safety Act training course is running on the 25th July, 20th and 22nd September. More information about the course is available here www.rdr.link/lae003

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NEWS: PROJECT UPDATE Seddon on track to deliver £100m in social housing as Midlands growth accelerates Fifth generation family-owned construction business, Seddon, has seen a 117% turnover in the Midlands since 2018, part of which is the delivery of £94m worth of social housing projects to date. The success has grown from established long-term relationships, with over two thirds of work delivered through two regional partnerships. The £94m of social housing detail has generated circa 130 jobs in the area with local employment accounting for 82% of regional work and as growth continues, this figure is set to rise. Peter Jackson, Managing Director at Seddon Construction says: “Our growth is based upon firm foundations of sustained relationships, cultivated around frameworks and good delivery in challenging times. As a business, we pride ourselves on the relationships that we have in place, and we

Seddon is working with Sandwell Council on a project in Oldbury to refurbish an existing nine-storey tower block and build 16 new homes

continue to invest in. By having such collaboration with all stakeholders, it allows us to increase our investment in the West Midlands, bringing further employment and prosperity to the area.” Seddon has worked with West Midlands housing association, Citizen, for four years. The housing association owns and manages over 30,000 homes across the region. The partnership has grown significantly since the delivery of the £300k Coventry environmental improvements project, Bell Green estate in Coventry, in 2018. The partnership has since led to circa £15m of new-build homes in the Coventry area resulting in a £30m relationship for Seddon. The family-owned contractor was recently awarded a five-year contract from Citizen to deliver fire doors that will play a

critical part in safety improvements since the Grenfell tragedy and subsequent Hackitt report. Seddon will also be partnering with Citizen to help towards the refurbishment of homes across their stock with kitchen and bathroom replacements during 2022. Another integral part of the contractor’s growth has been its relationship with Sandwell Council, which has seen a turnover of £35m for Seddon. The pair are currently working together on Alfred Gunn House, comprising a major internal and external refurbishment to an existing ninestorey tower block, roof extension and loft conversion along with the construction of 16 new homes with significant external landscaping works to the site in Oldbury. The latest value of this project is circa £21m.

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Affordable housing development in Worcester Work started in July on a 120-home affordable homes development in Worcester for housing provider Stonewater — which is being built by Vistry Partnerships West Midlands. Supported by Homes England funding, Stonewater is working with Worcester City Council to deliver the much-needed development off Bromyard Road. Each home will beneﬁt from the installation of air source heat pumps, making the homes more cost-effective to run whilst also lowering carbon emissions. High-quality site-based construction

techniques will be used to improve efficiency during the building work, with the housing association seeking to create local employment, training and supply chain opportunities. The completed development will provide a mixture of two-, three- and fourbedroom houses to support local people struggling to rent or buy their own home. It will include 26 homes for affordable rent, 38 for social rent and 48 for shared ownership. Another eight will be available for Rent to Buy, aimed at easing the transition from renting to buying a home.

Development Contractors Framework Higgins has renewed its place as one of the preferred developers on Notting Hill Genesis’ Development Contractors Framewor, which will run for the next four years. The framework will support the delivery of a variety of vibrant mixedtenure and mixed-use schemes across its large development pipeline, which is made up of affordable and private homes for rent or sale, as well as commercial properties and a focus on creating thriving communities. Notting Hill Genesis plans to deliver 7,000 new homes over the next five years, in the Greater London area. Steve Leakey, Managing Director of Higgins Partnerships comments: “We already have a well-established partnership working with Notting Hill Genesis on projects including Peckham Place in Peckham, the recently completed Woolwich Reach in Newham and City Park West in Chelmsford. We are pleased to have secured our position on their development framework and look forward to working together to deliver more homes within sustainable communities.”

New coastal town in Edinburgh The creation of a £1.3bn well-connected, sustainable new coastal town at Granton Waterfront in Edinburgh has reached its next major milestone. Following a competitive procurement process, the City of Edinburgh Council has announced the Cruden Group as the preferred bidder to take forward the ﬁrst phase of the Council’s ambitious outline business case to regenerate the area.

In the next couple of years, the Council will work in partnership with Cruden to take forward pre-development works including detailed designs for around 750 net zero homes for sale and rent, commercial space, new and enhanced sustainable transport infrastructure and public realm which will connect the surrounding neighbourhoods with the Waterfront. The ﬁrst phase of the project will also see the delivery of a new school and medical centre. In addition, the Council will also work with its new development partner to bring forward a low carbon energy solution for the ﬁrst and future phases of the project contributing to its target to reach net zero emissions by 2030.

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INDUSTRY COMMENT

Rent reform impact on councils Private renters’ reform — what does it mean for councils? Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), discusses the A Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper and the potential ramifications for councils. oris Johnson chose widening home ownership as the centrepiece of his speech on 9th June after coming uncomfortably close to losing the confidence of his own backbenchers. (Since this comment was written, Boris Johnson has resigned as Prime Minister). The headline proposal was to extend the Right to Buy to housing association tenants. But a White Paper launched a week later by Michael Gove may prove much more influential in the long run. Gove’s White Paper, A Fairer Private Rented Sector, proposes the biggest shake-up of the private sector since the 1980s and might easily signal the end of the buy-to-let landlord, easing the way for buyers wanting their own home. Reform could also have big implications for local authorities. The Government haas been under pressure for some years to outlaw socalled ‘no fault’ Section 21 evictions — that allow landlords to terminate tenancies without giving any reason. It consulted on the issue in April 2019 and a Renters Reform Bill was announced in that year’s Queen’s Speech. The Bill was not introduced before the 2019 General Election so abolition of Section 21 was included in the Conservative manifesto. This year’s Queen’s Speech duly included a Renters’ Reform Bill for which this White Paper paves the way, but A Fairer Private Rented Sector proposes a more radical approach than previously envisaged. It proposes an end to fixedterm private tenancies — currently known as assured shorthold tenancies — and the transfer of all existing shorthold tenants onto periodic — indefinite —

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tenancies that can only be ended on legally-deﬁned grounds. Local authorities currently have the power to grant ﬁxed-term tenancies, and many do. Older readers may remember that David Cameron’s government proposed to make them mandatory — and the power to do so remains on the statute book. Arguably, the Government should now act to restore parity between the two sectors.

A duty on private landlords The Levelling Up White Paper signalled the Government’s ‘mission’ to halve the number of non-decent rented homes by 2030. Accordingly, a second major proposal in A Fairer Private Rented Sector is to place a duty on private landlords to comply with the Decent Homes Standard. The White Paper is, however, not clear on whether this duty will apply to the current DHS or a new version including the updates currently under consideration. Nor are any details given on the timetable for introduction of the duty and how long individual landlords will be given to comply with it. The Government’s Clean Growth Strategy includes an ambition to raise private rented homes to EPC Band C or better by 2030. It is equally vague on how this will be delivered or how in interfaces with the Decent Homes agenda. The White Paper is, however, clear on one point — local authorities will be expected to play a leading role in holding landlords to the new standards and enforcing improvements, although there will also be a new Ombudsman for the private rented sector with similar powers to the Housing Ombudsman. Councils will get new enforcement powers and there

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Councils should stand “ready for even more homeless applicants as a by-product of these reforms, laudable though they are.

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will be higher ﬁnest for landlord noncompliance. The ﬁrst step is pilot schemes with a selection of local authorities to explore different ways of enforcing standards and work with landlords to speed up adoption of the DHS. The introduction of assured shorthold tenancies in 1988 was one of the key steps that unleashed the emergence of the buy-to-let landlords and the spectacular growth of the private rented sector over the next two decades. Mortgage providers have generally been keen on them to ensure repossession if landlords get into arrears. Scrapping them may make lending to landlords less attractive; equally, it may encourage a substantial number of landlords to sell. More may prefer to sell than spend money on improvements to meet the DHS or decarbonisation standards, which they cannot recoup through increased rent. Sale of the property will be a legitimate ground for possession under the White Paper proposals. Loss of a private tenancy is already the commonest reason given by homeless applicants for local authority housing. Councils should stand ready for even more homeless applicants as a by-product of these reforms, laudable though they are.

www.arch-housing.org.uk

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SPECIAL REPORT: DEVELOPING BROWNFIELD STRATEGIES

Brownfield: Piecing it together Mike Salter, Group Development Director at SCAPE, one of the UK’s leading public sector procurement authorities, outlines what local authorities should be considering when developing brownfield strategies to capture funding and deliver on the Government’s levelling up ambitions.

uccessive budgets and policy updates have made one thing clear: brownfield land will be the cornerstone of Britain’s levellingup efforts. Funds for Brownfield Land, Levelling Up, High Streets and Towns have arrived with encouraging regularity, following years in which local authorities have aimed to unlock disused or poorly configured urban land — while battling with increasingly limited resources. The case for brownfield development is nothing new. However, it is the complex nature of the process that has made it a less favourable option in the past. Indeed, disused industrial patches — more

common in under-loved areas of our towns and cities — often have piecemeal ownership structures and come with significant infrastructure challenges that prohibit swift and effective development. But if these issues can be overcome, brownfield land has the potential to provide a major platform for community regeneration; sustainably supporting the delivery of new homes, commercial development and public realm — all key pillars of thriving communities. Crucially, it offers a viable alternative to greenbelt development as local authorities increasingly focus on their net zero commitments.

Local authorities targeting brownfield-led regeneration must bring it about through an effective use of the funding, resources and expertise available — be that inhouse or through partners. Crucially, a strategy is needed that brings all parties, from residents to developers, under the same banner to create better places to live, work and play.

A framework for change Having identified possible sites, local authorities will need to create a strategic development framework — although a few factors need to be considered as part of this. The first will be setting a clear

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element of regeneration — and a clear framework will ensure that different aspects and areas of the community complement each other and contribute positively towards its growth. Having this cohesive plan in place, which sets out a clear delivery strategy, will also play a critical role in accessing all-important funding. As noted before, there are a range of funding pots for local authorities to target. However, central government has a responsibility to direct it towards the plans that show the greatest potential for success. Put simply, if the business case is unable to stand up to scrutiny from central government, local authorities risk the time and resource spent on feasibility and planning going to waste. Equally, local authorities at this point should be considering whether private investment will be needed to support the project and what role private developers, contractors and their funders should play. Long-term regeneration projects have the potential to support commercial growth if developers are willing to provide patient capital in getting them off the ground.

Lasting impact

Mike Salter, Group Development Director at SCAPE

objective based on local need. For one, this might mean boosting housing provision. For another, driving economic growth through commercial development. Identifying this at the very start means all future efforts are geared towards delivering that goal. The agreed objective should also factor in the project’s sustainability aims; setting ambitious targets for cutting waste and emissions in both delivery and use. Once an objective is set, the next stage is evaluating what’s feasible. While using the land available to meet the most pressing local need is ideal, sometimes it’s not always practical. For instance, a largescale housing development has the potential to exacerbate local issues if the infrastructure and services — think roads, shops, schools — are not in place to support it. This is the placemaking

A strategic masterplan has the potential to be a catalyst for positive change in a community. However, once funding is secured to remediate land and prepare it for development, the standard of regeneration will only ever be as good as the partners delivering it. Repurposing disused land requires experienced developers and contractors with intimate knowledge of what it takes to transform brownfield land into a thriving space for the community. Given the constraints local authorities face — one condition of the funding available is often that it’s used within a certain period — they don’t often have the time to engage in protracted tender processes. Direct award frameworks can offer a swift but robust route for local authorities looking to procure quality build partners. But not only do they have extensive experience in delivering these projects, the frameworks mandate a focus on social value, sustainability and ultimately placing communities at the heart of every project. They also have access to the

land has “the...brownfield potential to provide a major platform for community regeneration; sustainably supporting the delivery of new homes, commercial development and public realm — all key pillars of thriving communities.

”

extensive local and specialised supply chains that local authorities should be looking to engage in any procurement where possible.

Long-term legacy In addition to working with quality delivery partners, continued investment is key to ensuring that regeneration has farreaching impact for years to come. Here, local authorities have two core options: sell the revitalised area to private landlords and developers and reinvest the funds in other initiatives or regeneration projects, or keep the assets under management, providing a stable revenue stream for the authority. The perfect option will differ on a caseby-case basis, which is why it’s crucial to engage partners early when establishing a framework. They can help evaluate the needs of the community and how its developments can yield the greatest value. The solution can then be bakedinto the masterplan and offer a clear target for all to aim towards. Ensuring that stakeholders across the board are united in their ambitions creates stronger and positive long-term results for local communities. This is what brownfield funding from the Government is designed to support. Used properly, it can be at the heart of best-in-class regeneration.

■ For more information on SCAPE, its frameworks and services please visit www.rdr.link/lae004

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GUEST COMMENT

Training and personal development As a sector, we place a high value on both the technical competence and the professional standards of our people, so when the Government recently launched a consultation on professional standards in the social housing sector, Abri felt it was important to respond. Nikkie Pullen, Organisational Development Manager at Abri, discusses why training and personal development is central to quality social housing.

ll customers have the right to good service, for their requests and queries to be dealt with effectively and to be treated with respect and courtesy. Sharing insights and feedback, alongside our peers, will help to make sure our sector challenges itself and puts people at the heart of delivery. As part of its consultation, the Government invited social housing tenants and housing providers, among others, to tell them about the qualifications currently available for those who work in the housing industry. It also asked whether any additional training is required to improve the service to customers and whether standardisation could play a role in ensuring service across the sector.

What Abri’s doing Providing ongoing support to our colleagues to keep on developing offers an obvious benefit to both us and our customers. The more able our colleagues are — and the more they’re working to a defined standard — the more consistent our service to customers is. For Abri this meant creating a dedicated in-house programme called Housing Professional of the Future, which has the Chartered Institute of Housing’s suite of Professional Standards at its core. The Housing Professional of the Future (HPoF) programme is a key part of this, helping our colleagues with their personal and professional development, regardless of their position at Abri. HPoF makes sure everyone has a good understanding of the sector and the values and behaviours needed, so we can all stay at the top of our game. We’re also #proudtobeprofessional. That means we’re united by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), which governs our common purpose as housing 1 4

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professionals, what we stand for and what we’re trying to achieve. Its standards are at the heart of our colleagues’ personal development programme.

Abri’s response to the Government’s consultation The CIH does a great job in setting its Professional Standards, bringing the sector together with the aim of providing our customers with consistently high-quality homes and service. And it continues to adapt its approach to respond to the changing needs of the housing industry. We’re proud to be involved in this process. Earlier this year Andy Skarzynski, Executive Director of Strategy Business Intelligence and HR at Abri, shared our ideas about professional development in the housing sector during the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities’ Social Housing White Paper Professionalisation Review. We believe that anyone who works in the housing sector, regardless of their profession, has a responsibility that begins and ends with the welfare and wellbeing of our customers. Because we do more than provide homes. We create thriving communities and seek to empower lives, putting our customers first, and at the heart of everything we do.

We think that having a full understanding and appreciation of the housing sector, regardless of a person’s job, is vital. This means someone working in the sector should, as far as possible, have a ‘dual role’. For instance, a plumber isn’t just a plumber. They have two jobs. One is fixing a customer’s dripping tap. The other is to be aware of any personal, building or safeguarding concerns they may see. Likewise, for those who aren’t typically as connected to customers. A HR professional isn’t just a HR professional — they’re a housing HR professional. This ‘dual role’ mindset will allow us to better prevent issues from occurring in the first place, as well as resolving issues more quickly when they do happen.

The question is, how do we achieve this? The CIH drives the sector with its Professional Standards framework. It brings us together by keeping the work that we do to the highest standard for customers. We want to keep building on this success. Creating greater adoption of these standards could be one way the sector can further strengthen its commitment to standards. ©EtiAmmos/AdobeStock

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SPECIAL REPORT: PLACEMAKING-LED REGENERATION

In 2020 LCR was appointed to help deliver the masterplan for Stafford Station Gateway, a multimillion-pound regeneration project that will transform 28 hectares of land adjacent to the town’s railway station into a new commercial, residential and leisure development

Driving regeneration through collaborative development Peter Hawthorne, CEO of regeneration specialist LCR, explores the importance of placemakingled regeneration and how local authorities can utilise collaborative partnerships to catalyse the most effective regeneration and new-home projects.

elivering new housing and regeneration in communities across the country is a perennial challenge for local authorities. For decades, they’ve faced the same barriers to new-builds: squeezed finances, stretched resources, and a perceived lack of available, unrestricted land. Amid a struggling economy, population increases and house price inflation, there’s growing pressure on local authorities to find solutions to the barriers that they face to increase housing. This is no mean feat, particularly when we consider that they’re also being tasked to drive regeneration in order to bolster long-term economic growth. Combining these twin strategic goals — while maximising resources and value for

money — will require a collaborative approach, with partners from multiple disciplines pooling their expertise to form a single, holistic plan.

Collaborative approach Regeneration and the creation of new homes requires myriad skills, resources and experience, whether it’s owning the land proposed for development, or having the tools to realise a project. As such, the most successful stories of placemaking and regeneration have partnerships at their heart. A leading example of collaboration in action is the Greater Manchester Station Alliance — a partnership between Transport for Greater Manchester, Network Rail, Train Operating Companies and LCR.

The Alliance sees the parties combine their underutilised land holdings with industry expertise and local knowledge, assembling sites in partnership with local authorities across Greater Manchester and bringing forward plans for regeneration. Since the Alliance was established in 2018, it has been working with local authorities across the region to identify sites for development. One example is in Rochdale where, together with Rochdale Borough Council, the Alliance has delivered spatial masterplans for regeneration at four of the five stations along its rail corridor, with the combined potential to enable the delivery of thousands of homes, new and improved public realm, and commercial space.

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Together with Rochdale Borough Council, the Greater Manchester Station Alliance, which includes LCR, has delivered spatial masterplans for regeneration at four of the five stations along its rail corridor

Land pooling agreements are also a useful tool for developing challenging sites. Often, a large plot of unused land will be split into multiple, smaller sites with different owners, rendering them too small to be developed in its isolation. As its name suggests, a land pooling agreement helps bring these sites together. But crucially, it unites the owners and developers of the land under one ambition. Our work with Worthing Borough Council is an excellent example of a land pooling agreement delivering where traditional models of development haven’t. After years of failed attempts to bring forward development at Union Place, in the centre of Worthing, the Council acquired the land from private developers and enlisted LCR’s support to acquire further land and piece together plans for cohesive regeneration. As a result, plans are now in place to deliver nearly 170 homes, new commercial space and a cinema.

Regeneration hubs A crucial contributor to the success of regeneration schemes is being able to take an outsider’s view of the land available and suggest solutions to bring forward land otherwise thought too difficult to develop on. The land surrounding train stations are the perfect example of places that are tricky to build on, yet offer land meet the twin aims of housing and regeneration.

The Government has made delivering new homes on brownfield sites a priority and the chancellor’s committed £1.8bn in funding to support this ambition. Brownfield land around stations is ripe for redevelopment, but piecemeal ownership structures of these areas have always hindered their progress. However, at LCR, we use our unique position as part of the Department for Transport to help unlock this land, engage developers and bring forward land in partnership with local authorities. According to a review of land around railway stations we conducted with Network Rail, there’s the potential of tens of thousands of homes to be delivered, making a significant contribution to reducing the country’s housing need. But it’s not just housing. As transport hubs, stations are often situated at the heart of our towns and city centres, which is why they’ll have a key role to play when it comes to placemaking and catalysing regeneration in our communities. In its simplest form, placemaking is all about tying the various locations and activities in an area together, and it’s not just about what is being built and where. Active travel is a core tenet of placemaking because it has multiple benefits: it is sustainable as it reduces the number of vehicles on the road, the public gain health advantages from walking and cycling rather than driving, and it’s cheaper.

According to a review of “land around railway stations we conducted with Network Rail, there’s the potential of tens of thousands of homes to be delivered, making a significant contribution to reducing the country’s housing need.

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Stations can act as active travel hubs, with plenty of space for cycle storage and connections to public transport for those longer distance journeys. When we begin to think about the brownfield land around stations as being much more than land that’s tricky to develop on, we open up a world of possibility that will deliver the maximum public value from regeneration. Thinking about a community’s assets collectively is the first step of regeneration. The second is to think as a collective to ensure each party is pulling in the same direction.

■ For more information on LCR and its services please visit www.rdr.link/lae005

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SPECIAL REPORT: EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

The demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure is increasing

Getting ready for an electric future Craig Slater, Managing Director at Sevadis, discusses the future of EV charging for local authorities and social housing providers.

ndoubtedly, we are experiencing an EV revolution — something that most would have shrugged their shoulders at only a decade ago. Gone are the days when the population had little confidence in electrification. Month by month electric vehicle registrations are surging like never before and as a result of this, the demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure increases. Local authorities and social housing providers play a crucial part in the roll-out of the nation’s network of EV charging points, however, we understand that this remains a topic that requires greater clarity from industry professionals. Firstly, let’s talk about funding. The Department for Transport has now invested over £2bn towards making the nation a cleaner and greener environment, ensuring that we meet our 2050 Net Zero

targets. A significant proportion of this funding is allocated to the deployment of EV chargepoint installations, targeting businesses, organisations, local authorities and electric vehicle drivers. With a notable percentage of people without private parking, local authorities are provided with grant funding incentives to install on-street EV charging, enabling drivers to recharge their vehicles if they do not have a driveway or garage. Local authorities can take advantage of up to £7,500 per charging socket under the On-street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS), which should cover 75% of the overall installation costs. By taking advantage of this sum, not only does it allow current EV drivers without private parking to recharge, but it also encourages non-EV drivers to take electrification into consideration.

We know from experience that drivers are reluctant to switch, especially those without the means to recharge their vehicles at home, however, the installation of on-street EV charging facilities ultimately provides the peace of mind that drivers are seeking before making the switch.

Funding for social housing providers Grant funding is now available for social housing providers, enabling them to benefit from £350 per charging socket and a maximum of 200 applications for their premises. Prior to the introduction of this new grant funding, there were many social housing providers that were taking EV charging into consideration, however were conscious about the costs associated with installations. This new grant funding initiative alleviates such expenditure and provides social

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There are now options available to recharge vehicles on site when supply is restricted via dynamic load balancing

Grant funding is now “available for social housing The Department for Transport’s investment package to make the nation a cleaner and greener environment includes funding for the deployment of EV chargepoint installations

housing providers with the means to deploy charging points across their portfolio of properties. Trends present that there are many prospective homeowners/renters seeking to invest in property with the facilities to recharge; this trend is not only apparent amongst current EV drivers, but drivers who are actively pondering the switch for the future.

EV charging challenges There are several challenges that local authorities and social housing providers face when it comes to EV charging. Are the charging points easy to install? Can I generate additional revenue to recoup the associated costs? Do I have enough supply to accommodate EV charging at my premises? For organisations to gain confidence in the deployment of EV charging points, the charging point itself must be easy-toinstall, as well as easy-to-operate; a seamless process for all parties involved is paramount to increasing trust. Return on investment is also a topic of conversation when deliberating EV charging points, however one that is easily solved when choosing a smart back-office management system that offers billable charging for different user groups.

When thinking about the deployment of charging points, it is common to contemplate whether your site has sufficient power to distribute, but as the industry has evolved, there are now options that allow you to recharge vehicles on site when supply is restricted via dynamic load balancing. Questions about EV charging are not unusual, as a nation we are still in early stages of deployment — the best advice we can provide is that you ask those questions, and more than likely, there will be a solution to meet your requirements. With the implementation of mandatory EV charging points for new-build developments, as well as smart charging regulations, now is the ideal period for local authorities and social housing providers to install charging points at their premises. The rise in electric vehicles continues, with that comes a requirement for the facilities to recharge; both local authorities and social housing providers can play a pivotal role in shaping the future of electrified transport.

providers, enabling them to benefit from £350 per charging socket and a maximum of 200 applications for their premises.

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charging hardware and software solutions enable local authorities and social housing providers to offer charging facilities to electric vehicle drivers, whilst increasing green credentials, generating ROI and potential profit in the future. We understand the pain-points in EV chargepoint installations; we understand the requirement for more education in the industry around the challenges and opportunities that EV charging presents and we understand that for the EV revolution to continue, we must work together to provide seamless charging experiences for the growing number of EV drivers on the UK’s roads. Our team comprises individuals with over 15 years of collective experience in the EV charging sphere — that combined with our determination to make EV charging accessible for all, Sevadis is a go-to chargepoint provider for both local authorities and social housing providers.

Complete solution At Sevadis, we provide an end-to-end solution for all requirements; whether that be a public destination, a car park, a private underground car park or a singleunit property. Our combination of EV

■ For more information on the end-to-end solution Sevadis provides, please visit www.rdr.link/lae006

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LEGAL UPDATE

Rent reforms ■ Charlotte Cook is a Partner in the Social Housing team at Winckworth Sherwood. She can be reached by email: ccook@wslaw.co.uk. Visit www.wslaw.co.uk.

he Government in its May Queen’s Speech reaffirmed its commitment to reform of the ‘broken’ rental market. Its legislation is likely to drive up demand for social and local government housing. The proposed Renters Reform Bill looks to strengthen the rights of tenants and will, amongst other things, see the abolition of Section 21 Notices and the creation of a new Ombudsmen to settle disputes between landlords and tenants. The reforms will effectively see the end of shorthold tenancies. Reform, whilst needed, comes at a challenging time for private landlords. Tax changes over the past decade have undermined the attractiveness of the buy to let market, and with soaring property prices many private landlords may decide that now is the time to cash in. Properties sold are unlikely to remain in the rental market, adding further pressures on renters. Research1 in June 2022 by industry body PropertyMark reports the number of rental properties available to renters has already halved over the past 12 months with rents increasing.

Charlotte Cook, Partner in the Social Housing team at Winckworth Sherwood, considers whether rent reforms will drive up demand for social and local government housing. enabling tenants to move towards assured tenancy agreements. More common are fixed-term tenancies, reviewed every five years, giving social landlords the option to move tenants on should their personal or financial circumstances change. It can only be right that, where an individual no longer needs the support of a social housing provider, they make way for those that do.

Research in June 2022 by “industry body PropertyMark reports the number of rental properties available to renters has already halved over the past 12 months with rents increasing.

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Housing associations and local government have traditionally offered the best security of tenancies possible, but here too there has been change. In most instances, the old ‘homes for life’ approach offered by social housing does not exist, replaced with ‘starter tenancies’

Yet these reforms, particularly the abolition of Section 21 Notices, will, it could be argued, reintroduce the concept of ‘homes for life’ for renters, with landlords now facing a tough regime should they wish to remove a tenant. Whilst possession action may be taken for a defaulting tenant, they can be time and cost prohibitive for many. Whilst Landlords and lenders need the ability to remove problematic tenants and to have freedom to sell a property should they wish, they do also have a responsibility to their tenants. Rather than the abolition of Section 21 notices the

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Government would have been better to extend the notice periods from two to six months, giving more suitable time for tenants to find a new home and providing landlords and lenders with the protection they need. Private landlords are choosing to exit the market, with private rents increasing as a result. Many families are already struggling: facing a cost-of-living crisis not seen in decades. For many renters, this will leave them with little or no option but to turn to social housing providers and local government. Demand will increase, in a market already dominated by long waiting lists. Reform of the rental market is undoubtedly needed, but the question remains as to who exactly is being reformed? ___________________________________________ 1

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rdr.link Introducing rdr.link A new digital service for our readers With a wide array of online resources supporting the latest solutions – from videos to technical guides, PDFs to Podcasts – it can be a challenge to locate what you need. To ensure you don’t miss out on these valuable resources, we are introducing rdr.link – a new, rapid service to transport you immediately to the online resources mentioned in our stories. So, in articles you may now see things like: “To view an exclusive time-lapse video of the process use rdr.link/AA101” Simply enter rdr.link/ with the unique 5 digit code into a browser and it will take you directly to the mentioned resource – in this case the video. Designed to help busy professionals rapidly locate more information – look out for & use

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Estimates suggest that the UK education sector accounts for around 2% of the entire nation’s carbon footprint

Building healthy educational facilities Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical at REHAU Building Solutions, discusses how incorporating healthy design principles can help schools and universities cater to occupant wellbeing, as well as reduce the sector’s impact on the environment.

here is a mounting body of research to suggest that there is a fundamental link between educational buildings and the performance of those who inhabit them. The Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) 2017 Oslo Manifesto is perhaps the landmark piece of research in this area, asserting that “good design can support better learning outcomes for students, increase teachers’ productivity, and even make schools more cost-effective to run”.

Shifting priorities With building design weighing in so heavily on occupant performance, it follows that architects, contractors and specifiers would make this a priority as they approach the construction of new facilities. However, in light of a number of other growing market challenges, building designers must now balance a number of prominent factors against one another. For instance, the UK’s higher education student population is expected

to grow by 12.3% between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 academic years, placing more pressure on current building stock. This challenge is exacerbated when statistics surrounding ageing facilities are brought into the equation — the National Audit Office estimates that around 60% of current academic building stock was built before 1976, drawing up questions around its suitability for use today. Of course, one of the greatest challenges to consider is the green

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

REHAU surveyed 520 “M&E designers and architects, of which 25% dealt primarily with schools and universities.

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transition, with net zero targets necessitating that building designers and specifiers working in all sectors make more sustainable choices where possible — including in education. In an effort to see how these factors now weigh up against one another, REHAU commissioned a series of reports — the Designing Healthy series — spanning education, apartments, hotels and healthcare. REHAU surveyed 520 M&E designers and architects, of which 25% dealt primarily with schools and universities. One of the takeaway figures from this survey is that 97% of respondents felt that leaving highquality buildings for future generations is a medium to high priority. Despite this encouraging sign, 77% believed that wellbeing is being ‘value-engineered’ out of a building’s original design. With this in mind, it clear that there has never been a greater need to incorporate fundamentally healthy design principles in the construction of new schools and universities.

buffer, running hot or cold water through slabs to heat or cool as necessary. Compared to a traditional HVAC system, this allows temperature change to take place gradually, rather than blast heating or chilling the space, which promotes humidity and in turn the growth of harmful mould. However, it is important that current building stock can also access a means of effective temperature control, given that older buildings make up a large percentage of the current UK education sector. Here, fitting a smart control system such as REHAU’s NEA SMART 2.0 allows for a more efficient approach to heat distribution. When coupled with an underfloor heating system, this method results in around a 15% reduction in fuel usage compared to radiators, while also offering no burn risks or noise during operation. This also presents the opportunity to be installed with a number of low carbon technologies such as air and ground source heat pumps for a further reduction in carbon emissions.

schemes — a fact that was recognised by respondents to REHAU’s survey, with 60% believing demand for the technology will grow over the next five years. The true potential for carbon savings through heat networks lies in fourth generation systems, which use lower flow temperatures of 40-60˚C (compared to 70-95˚C in third generation systems) to deliver a reduction in both carbon emissions and heat losses. It should be noted that fourth generation systems favour polymer pipework, such as REHAU’s RAUVITHERM and RAUTHERMEX over steel, boasting a quicker install thanks to its compression sleeve jointing system, without the need for welding. Moreover, recent research from REHAU indicates that due to its lightweight nature, opting for polymer pipework over steel can deliver a 67% saving on carbon emissions during transport, resulting in lower embodied emissions for each project undertaken.

Regulating indoor temperature

Embracing low carbon heating

Closing thoughts

One of the primary factors deemed to be influential on occupant performance by the aforementioned Oslo Manifesto is thermal control — a consideration that is recognised in the Government’s Building Bulletin 101, which was updated as recently as 2018 to recognise the effects of extreme thermal conditions on learning. Though traditional HVAC systems have long proved the industry-standard method of heating and cooling in schools and universities, alternatives methods are emerging which are both more efficient and better for the environment. For instance, for new buildings, thermally activated building structures (TABS) use the building’s concrete thermal mass as a

Estimates suggest that the UK education sector accounts for around 2% of the entire nation’s carbon footprint. While this may appear to be a small figure, the onus falls upon all sectors to play their part in enabling the transition to net zero by 2050. Given that one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in the UK is heating, it is important to examine alternatives to the traditional gas boiler. One such alternative is district heating, wherein heat and hot water are provided to multiple buildings through an underground network of pre-insulated pipes, with a singular, shared heat source. This technology continues to enjoy growing uptake thanks to recent government

The solutions outlined here offer only a glimpse into the ways that architects and M&E designers can facilitate a healthier and more sustainable future for the education sector, with the limit only truly set by the designer’s ingenuity. For this reason, architects and specifiers should consider alternatives to traditional methods where possible, in order to successfully decarbonise while crucially upholding occupant wellbeing.

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■ To download the full guide, Designing Healthy Education, please visit www.rdr.link/lae007

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Whitecroft undertook a large-scale lighting upgrade at Manchester Town Hall

Circular lighting design Manchester City Council has set out its ambitious plans for the city to become carbon neutral by 2038. Andy Turton, Account Director in Client Energy Services at Whitecroft Lighting, explains how the company’s circular principles to lighting are helping to achieve that goal.

itting proudly at the heart of Manchester city centre, the city’s magnificent gothic town hall is testament to the Victorian wealth and ambition, a moment to the birth of the industrial revolution. Over 150 years on, and Manchester is facing up to another revolution: tackling the challenges of climate change, and like the growth of industry in 19th Century, one that will require no-less innovation and ingenuity. It’s really exciting to see Manchester City Council leading from the front, particularly on its commitment to Manchester becoming a net zero carbon city by 2038, a full 12 years ahead of the UK target of 2050. Ashton-under-Lyne based Whitecroft Lighting has a long history of working with the Council, and our most recent venture was part of the six-year refurbishment of Manchester Town Hall, and decarbonisation of the Council’s estate. Using its sustainable principles of product design led by circularity, Whitecroft undertook a large-scale lighting upgrade, including the circular regeneration programme of bespoke Raft luminaires that we originally designed and

supplied in 2013. This was shaped by energy consultants, Amaresco, with an emphasis placed on lighting quality, aesthetics and reducing carbon through minimising the use of materials and energy, and increasing ongoing operational efficiency. To achieve this Whitecroft completed a survey of each area of the building, enabling us to fully understand the existing infrastructure. This early engagement is crucial, as it allows Whitecroft to work in harmony with existing materials, and where, possible, custom design lighting accordingly to dramatically reduce the use of virgin materials in new products. This is just one of the principles of the circular economy, which will be expanded on later.

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Enlightening welfare and sustainability The City Council was clear from the outset that the welfare of its staff and building users had to sit alongside sustainability as a priority. To achieve this we worked in partnership with the Council’s Health & Safety Executive to set up a number of trial areas where people could work,

experience the lighting, and give feedback on the light quality and aesthetics. This process provided the evidence we needed to adjust our rollout across the estate. A big part of the project was upgrading rather than replacing the Raft T5 Fluorescent lighting system in The Town Hall. This was achieved by taking a modular approach and fitting Whitecroft’s circular designed LED Gear Trays into the Raft. 2,350 gear trays were upgraded in the process. Whitecroft then improved the aesthetics of the existing Rafts, cleaning each one individually, and reattaching clips and various accessories to making them look like new, and producing a more visually uniform lighting system. Upgrading rather than replacing the Raft lighting has meant 70% less waste and has reduced the energy output from 134kW to 75kW, with additional energy savings made through improved lighting controls. The project was completed with the help of Greater Manchester’s WMB Installations who assisted with the installation and fine-tuned the system. Other elements of the project included replacing high ceiling lighting with

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is projected to make energy savings in excess of 44%, reducing carbon emissions by Upgrading rather than replacing the Raft lighting at Manchester approximately 38 Town Hall has reduced the energy output to 75kW tonnes CO2/year, whilst also extending the luminaire lifecycle Whitecroft’s Oculus pendant LED luminaire, and facilitating future energy savings. complete with integral Passive Infrared Sensor (PIR), which was selected to complement the existing architectural Innovation comes full circle fluorescent pendant solution, which has At Whitecroft we have been following the generated energy savings in excess of 70%. business principles of circularity for a We also replaced a number of surface number of years now. This means that we architectural luminaires in lobby areas with prioritise repair, reuse, refurbishment, new fittings sympathetic to the gothic remanufacturing and recycling, minimising architecture and approved by English waste and the use of virgin materials. Heritage. Finally, we also applied our As highlighted in this project, we have circular economy principles to the lighting designed our circular products to include in all 30 of the Town Hall’s toilets, refitting reusable and replaceable modules, which another manufacturers’ luminaires, again significantly reduces waste over time and with our circular designed LED gear trays, extends the useful life of the materials which significantly reduced waste and included. This approach reduces the made energy savings of around 44%. whole life carbon impact of our products, In total, the work on Manchester Town Hall and helps clients to lower Scope Three

emissions, by reducing the embodied carbon from the sourcing of materials and the manufacturing process. As a Greater Manchester based manufacturer with over 77 years’ experience in the lighting industry, we were proud to play our part in helping to bringing this beautiful, historic building back to life and upgrade all the various other sites across the city. Manchester was the very vanguard of industrial innovation and I think it’s fitting that it’s Whitecroft Lighting, an innovative Manchester company, that’s helping the City Council tackle the challenge of climate change, and push towards its ambitious net zero carbon targets.

■ For more information on Whitecroft Lighting’s solutions visit www.rdr.link/lae008 ■ To download Whitecroft Lighting’s net zero guide visit: www.rdr.link/lae009

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Interpreting acoustic legislation for education Education is one of the few sectors with established guidance on the acoustic performance of buildings. However, interpreting these requirements can be complex. Here Adrian Whitefoot, Technical Services Manager at Kalzip, looks at the design considerations and performance criteria aligned to legislation requirements.

The roof design at Aberdeen City Council’s TECA (The Events Complex Aberdeen) features Kalzip standing seam profiles

he importance of acoustic performance in an educational environment is essential. Breaches of excessive noise from hallways, surrounding classrooms and external sources can significantly reduce the attention span of students, the same can be said of sound reverberation within the classroom. Research over the past few decades has shown a correlation between poor academic results and poor classroom acoustics, confirming that children with any degree of special needs suffered with their development. With the legislation being so complex, and the interpretation of the terminology presenting certain challenges, it is certainly advisable to partner up with a true industry expert that can help to guide the specification and installation of acoustic enhancing products to not only meet the requirements, but to ensure the aesthetic qualities are achieved. Building Bulletin 93 provides guidance on the acoustic performance required for educational buildings. These regulations were drawn up to address the issue of poor acoustic design and performance in the classroom. The upper limit for indoor

ambient noise in a nursery, primary and secondary school rooms is set at 35dB for a new building and 40dB for refurbished buildings, however this does differ from room to room. Music ensemble rooms, recording studios and teaching spaces have an upper limit of 30dB for a new-build and 35dB for a refurbishment.

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Noise transmission Airborne and impact noise can be transmitted from a variety of sources — particularly in a school setting. Playgrounds, traffic and noise pollution from adjoining classrooms and corridors all contribute to nuisance noise, and multi-storey schools suffer an even bigger impact. There are specific points to consider when designing within the current legislation to achieve adequate sound insulation. Weak elements must be identified, for example, inadequate glazing or doors must be replaced with ‘better’ materials. Any partitions between sensitive spaces should continue beyond the ceiling to the structural soffit or roof layer to ensure noise does not pass above it. The mass of materials is another consideration for internal sound insulation,

transmission of airborne sound across a solid wall or a single skin partition will obey what is known as the mass law. In principle, the law suggests that the sound insulation of a solid element will increase by approximately 5 dB per doubling of mass.

Sound insulation Sound reverberation is another key aspect to consider when designing educational facilities and spaces. Poor sound insulation can generate a noise issue from within the classroom itself, as noise becomes distorted and difficult to understand. The objective of this is to achieve a suitable reverberation time (RT) to enable clear communication between students, clear communication from teacher to student and to ensure that classrooms designed for with acoustic performance in mind are not affected detrimentally. The acceptable reverberation time differs depending on the intended use of the classroom, for example, the acceptable level for a nursery classroom is ≤ 0.6 for a new-build and ≤ 0.8 for a refurbishment, whereas a secondary school would only need to achieve ≤ 0.8 and ≤ 1.0 for a newbuild and refurbishment respectively. For a

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To achieve an outstanding 55 dB sound reduction figure, the roof at TECA features a bespoke Kalzip system comprising 14 separate components

full table of reverberation times take a look at Building Bulletin 931.

Acoustic performance solutions Kalzip Roof Systems can be used successfully in buildings where acoustic performance is an important issue. Due to the built-up nature of the system, it offers great flexibility. Various materials such as differing densities and types of insulation, rigid boards, flexible membranes and

dampening membranes can be added to the roof build-up to give appropriate sound insulation and perforated liners and structural decks can be used where sound absorption is important. The reduction of noise from rainfall can also be enhanced with Kalzip Roof Systems when considering dampening membranes, such as the Kalzip anti-drumming membrane. The buildings where Kalzip Roof Systems have been used successfully

include airports, stadia, and schools; commercial, industrial and residential developments. Each of these has its own acoustic requirements, which further illustrates the requirement of partnering with true industry professionals. Legislation surrounding everything from sound insulation to energy efficiency of buildings is being addressed by the Government to ensure that best practices are being adhered to. Acoustic performance for educational buildings is a top priority, and the students and staff that work within them must be considered when it comes to the design of learning spaces. ___________________________________________ 1 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/40078 4/BB93_February_2015.pdf

■ For more information about Kalzip Roof Systems visit www.rdr.link/lae010

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE: Dulux Trade paints provide anti-bacterial protection

©hxdbzxy/iStock

Shields up The new Sterishield Dual Active Matt brings anti-viral and anti-bacterial protection to the healthcare sector.

nterest around clinical standards and frequent cleaning has increased noticeably among consumers and industries in recent times. This has been particularly true in areas where high standards of cleanability are paramount, including the healthcare market. With a proven track record of developing products that meet the requirements of trade professionals, Dulux Trade is well positioned to address this new challenge. For more than 15 years, the company has been providing paints that promote a more hygienic environment through its Sterishield Diamond Matt range. A quick drying, water based coating containing an in-film bactericide, Sterishield Diamond Matt has been used in healthcare environments to help inhibit bacteria and reduce populations of MRSA and E.coli when used in conjunction with appropriate cleaning practices.

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As customer needs continue to evolve, Dulux is constantly innovating to improve its existing paint ranges while also launching new products that ﬁt the speciﬁc requirements of trade professionals. This led to the creation of Dulux Trade Sterishield Dual Active Matt, a new addition to the Sterishield family that builds on the range’s credentials by offering both anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties to contribute in supporting environmental hygiene1.

The paint is a quick-drying, water-based coating containing in-film antimicrobial additives that inhibit bacteria and viruses2 within the paint film. It reduces populations of MRSA, E. coli, Coronaviruses and Human Herpesvirus, helping to promote a more hygienic environment when combined with appropriate cleaning practices. Dulux Trade Sterishield Dual Active Matt is a stain resistant, scrubbable, durable matt finish emulsion suitable for all normal

interior wall and ceiling surfaces. It achieves ISO 11998 Class 1 and Type C BS 7719 scrub ratings, making it ideal for high use areas that require regular cleaning. ___________________________________________ 1 2

This product is not a substitute for good hygiene practice and regular cleaning regimes. Over 99% less viable E. coli and MRSA bacteria after 2 hours from exposure, tested to ISO 22196, and between 41-99% (dependent on virus type) less viable Human Herpes Virus HHV-1, Feline Coronavirus and Human Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 after 1 hour from exposure, tested to ISO 21702, when compared to control (Sterishield Diamond Matt).

Considerations for healthcare projects Andrew Cleaver, National Sector Manager Healthcare of DDC 360, highlights the important considerations for decorating contractors taking on healthcare projects: “Hygiene and aesthetics are two important factors for any decorating job but takes on an extra dimension when working on healthcare projects. “Maintaining the health and wellbeing of workers and patients is one of the top priorities for contractors operating in healthcare environments, so it’s essential to pick the right paint and tools for the job. For example, fumes from solvent-based paints can affect the air quality of a hospital room

and, in turn, the health of patients. Using water-based paints will help to alleviate some of these issues. “Colour is another important factor in healthcare decorating projects. Specific colours can trigger certain moods in patients and employees, while also helping people to distinguish between different hospital areas and helping those with visual impairments. Dulux Trade has its own Healthcare Colour Palette, based on research evidence, which can help specify the right shades and tones that will deliver great healthcare outcomes for clients. “Specific healthcare rooms and areas will also require specialist paints

to deliver the best results. For example, we would recommend products such as Dulux Trade Sterishield Dual Active Matt, a water-based coating that contains an in-film bactericide that inhibits the build-up of viruses and bacteria on walls when used with appropriate cleaning procedures.” Dulux Trade Sterishield Dual Active Matt is available now in White, Light Base, Medium Base and Extra Deep Base colour options.

To find out more about the new paint and the full Sterishield range, visit the Dulux Trade website at www.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/en

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Understanding the Protect Duty

hilst it is set to come into effect later this year, there appears to be a lack of awareness of firstly, what the Protect Duty is, and secondly, how the changes will impact. There has been a number of high-profile terror attacks in the UK in recent years, in response to which, the Government launched a public consultation on the implementation of the ‘Protect Duty’ legislation in February 2021. Also known as Martyn’s Law, the Protect Duty will seek to ensure that owners of publicly accessible areas implement the necessary protective measures to mitigate the threat of terrorist incidents appropriately. The Protect Duty consultation is particularly

focussed on attacks similar to the tragic event that occurred at the Manchester Arena in 2017. Sadly, the name Martyn’s Law refers to Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the attack, which resulted in 22 lives lost as well as injuring hundreds more.

Public consultation Currently there is no legislation in place that requires owners and operators of publicly accessible spaces to provide protection. However, since March 2017 in the UK, 27 terrorist plots have been foiled by the police and other security services. This alarming number is part of the reason that a public consultation was launched by the Government.

It is widely expected that the Protect Duty legislation will come into force later this year. These new laws will impose a responsibility on owners and operators of publicly accessible spaces and property, including schools, hospitals and other buildings, to provide protective measures and solutions to combat terrorist threats. Here, Paul Haggerty, HVM Business Development Manager at Marshalls Landscape Protection, explores what these changes mean and how local authorities will have to adapt. The consultation, which ran from February 2021 to July 2021, was open to the public but targeted venues, public buildings and other organisations particularly. It sought to address four key elements: 1. Who (or where) should legislation apply to? 2. What should the requirements be? 3. How should compliance work? 4. How should the Government best support and work with partners? Initial suggestions on how best to defend against terrorist threats were also mentioned in the consultation document. These included seeking counter-terrorism advice and undertaking appropriate training, carrying out a vulnerability assessment of their location or venue and developing and implementing an effective plan to mitigate the risks and vulnerabilities identified. As a complex issue, it was hoped that a strong response to the consultation would identify how best to approach the incoming changes. In January 2022, the results of the Protect Duty consultation were released by government, highlighting the key themes identified. In total, 2,755

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For local authorities, being “aware of how the new laws will look is crucial for planning ahead, as for many, new protective solutions will have to be installed and changes to current process will have to be made.

Factors such as location and venue capacity alter the required level of protection for a given site

individuals or organisations responded to the consultation, answering a series of 58 questions that related to the four key elements.

Who (or where) should legislation apply to? Importantly, the idea of introducing a Protect Duty was strongly supported in the consultation, with 70% of respondents agreeing that those responsible for public locations should take proportionate measures to protect the public from attacks. One key issue for many was identifying what qualified as a publicly accessible space. This was answered in the consultation, being defined as: “Any place to which the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission”. This includes public buildings, such as schools and hospitals. In the consultation, when asked which specific places a Protect Duty should apply to, many suggested ‘all publicly accessible locations’ or ‘all locations in general’. In addition, the majority (58%) said there should be no exemptions to the Protect Duty. This would seem to align with the sentiment shared in the introductory section of the document that reiterated that attacks cannot be predicted and could occur at any location, making them difficult to prevent.

What should the requirements be? Whilst the exact requirements of the legislation have not yet been finalised, some strong themes found in the responses gathered have emerged. A large amount of support was evident for ensuring that public building owners and operators carry out risk assessments to evaluate their vulnerabilities, and then act to mitigate these threats.

Additionally, strong views were expressed regarding accountability, with many responses agreeing that there should be clear paradigms for accountability set within the Duty. This mostly related to the need for clear roles and responsibilities within organisations. Although these haven’t been confirmed, such a strong response would suggest that there is a higher likelihood that the above will be included in the legislation.

How should compliance work? Questions put forward in this section of the consultation aimed to identify how those that responded felt that compliance to the Protect Duty should be monitored. The results displayed an almost even split for several questions in this category, including the use of an inspectorate. Just over 50% of respondents were in favour of this idea, believing that it would improve security culture and practices within organisations. Those that were not in favour of this system argued that it is a rather heavy-handed approach and could incur significant financial costs. A similarly even split was also seen in response to the proposed use of civil penalties to punish those that failed to comply.

How should the Government best support and work with partners? The statement issued by the Government alongside the consultation response explained that the Home Office is working with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and Pool Reinsurance to create a new interactive online service. The platform, which is scheduled for launch later in the year, will provide a central hub for advice, guidance, e-learning resources and other relevant content. It is intended to provide support for all organisations in

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creating a safer environment, whether or not the Protect Duty applies to them.

What’s next for local authorities? It is probable that the response to the Protect Duty consultation will shape the final legislation. For local authorities, being aware of how the new laws will look is crucial for planning ahead, as for many, new protective solutions will have to be installed and changes to current process will have to be made. The first action for local authorities to carry out is to assess their current situation with a security professional. Analysing what systems are already in place and whether they are up to the required standard; identifying areas of vulnerability; and considering how a location is manned should all be part of these discussions. It is important to note that the Protect Duty requirements will not be one-size-fitsall and will instead be proportionate, with factors such as location and venue capacity altering the required level of protection for a given site. Again, we would suggest consulting with a security specialist to determine an appropriate protective solution on a case-by-case basis. Once the protective measures that need to be introduced have been identified, the next step is to begin researching the market for protective and landscape solutions and services. There are a vast number of products available, understanding how they work and what they offer will enable local authorities to make a more informed decision on how best to protect premises and most importantly, people.

■ To find out more about Marshalls Landscape Protection, please visit www.rdr.link/lae011

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Basket Conduit

Sustainable building objectives Mark Kimberley, Head of Fast Trak at Gripple, explains the importance of knowing the embodied carbon of products used in all construction projects.

s the pressure mounts to deliver more sustainable construction projects, products and components that support this objective are in high demand. Carbon reduction, and the embodiment of that, is just one element of consideration and with buildings responsible for 39% of all the carbon emissions in the World (according to the World Green Building Council), there is little wonder that there is such a focus on this in the built environment. To facilitate this, and to enable local authorities and contractors to make more informed choices, an increasing number of

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product manufacturers are working hard to provide as much information as possible regarding the sustainability of their products, to assist specifiers satisfy CO2 reduction requirements.

What is embodied carbon? As manufacturers begin to focus on the carbon embodiment of their products and how they integrate into the overall embodied carbon of a building, it appears that there are considerable improvements to be made. The term embodied carbon refers to the emissions created during the construction of a building and the carbon footprint of the materials used within it, taking into consideration the manufacturing process, installation, and transportation of the products for example. So how are manufacturers addressing the

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problem especially for key components in commercial construction?

Embodied carbon and containment systems M&E suspension systems are a key component for safely grouping cables, ductwork and pipes, and are utilised in most commercial projects. Finding a way of doing this that supports sustainable building practices, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and carbon embodiment is now a primary consideration for architects, specifiers, facilities managers, and installers. A prefabricated solution such as Fast Trak by Gripple is a system that makes M&E installations easy. There is no need for hot work permits, cost and time efficiencies are improved, and site health and safety is simplified. Most importantly, the embodied carbon of projects is reduced due to the specific way in which the product is manufactured and installed. Components are made to exact specifications, reducing waste, whilst the installation can be carried out with just one engineer, and has been proven to be

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Fitting the Fast Trak Suspension System

six times quicker to install when compared with traditional threaded rod systems.

Tangible results In a project carried out for a new-build education establishment in Milton Keynes, the Fast Trak team produced detailed project design drawings along with labour, material weight and embodied carbon savings as part of the proposed solution. Speaking on the distribution relationship with Gripple, the Cambridge Manager for Edmundson Electrical says: "It has been great to work alongside Gripple to push such an innovative product. Not only does it reduce the install time for the contractor, but the reduction in the carbon footprint is also a big win. In a time where

environmental impact is at the forefront of our decision-making process, it is great to have manufacturers within our network who are leading the way." Indeed, the total embodied carbon saving for the project is around a third less when compared with the traditional threaded rod system (Fast Track 4,706kg versus Traditional Method 7,666kg).

Supporting modern construction As embodied carbon becomes ever present in the specification and installation of projects, manufacturers of products will have to demonstrate figures and those commissioning projects will be obliged to choose those providers that bring the most favourable environmental benefits.

In the race to net zero, all elements of our economy will have to find ways of making carbon related savings and the construction sector is paving the way in terms of its expectations from manufacturing, installers, and transport professionals who work on construction projects. In addition, embodied carbon reductions support the BREEAM certification process reinforcing its importance. BREEAM ‘recognises and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle’. A product that minimises waste, increases safety, reduces cost and is all together more efficient, ticks all the boxes when it comes to integrating into sustainable and responsible construction projects, both in the UK and across the globe.

■ To find out more about Gripple’s Fast Trak system visit www.rdr.link/lae012

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS ROUND-UP Premier Modular provides decant classrooms for school redevelopment Offsite specialist Premier Modular recently delivered a highly unusual project to provide decant teaching facilities at Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School in Ickenham. The temporary classrooms, science laboratories and SEN spaces have been sited on top of a permanent modular building and while that building was under construction. The school, which has over 1,500 students, is undergoing a comprehensive refurbishment, part of which included a new single storey modular annex. Premier won the contract to supply temporary accommodation, under a rental arrangement, to keep the school operational while the main school building is refurbished. Limited space on site meant that the best location for the decant accommodation was on top of the new modular extension. David Williams, Project Manager for main contractor Morgan Sindall Construction says: “This was a challenging project but Premier engaged in the design development and at every stage of the scheme. This meant that despite its complexities, the project went very smoothly.”

In total, 36 bespoke modules were installed on this highly constrained school site. To provide access, Premier installed both a platform lift and internal staircases, which interfaced seamlessly with the permanent structure. Anthony Corish, Executive Headteacher at Douay Martyrs Catholic School comments: “We were very keen to minimise any interruption to the children’s learning from the redevelopment and following the pandemic, so providing a

comprehensive facility for in-person teaching and social interaction were key priorities for the school. Premier’s classrooms give us all the facilities we need for the next year, and pupils and staff were able to move in without any disruption to their education.”

■ For more information on Premier Modular’s solutions visit www.rdr.link/lae013

Deanestor fits out second community hospital in the Scottish Highlands Healthcare sector furniture specialist Deanestor has delivered a second hospital fit out project in the Scottish Highlands. The new Broadford Community hospital on the Isle of Skye is part of a £40m development by NHS Highland. This investment included the award-winning Badenoch & Strathspey Community Hospital in Aviemore, which also fitted out by Deanestor. Delivered by hub North Scotland and designed by Oberlanders Architects with Rural Design, the new 24-bed hospital on Skye provides a range of services. There are consultation and treatment rooms on the ground floor, emergency department, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, chemotherapy, x-ray and ultrasound, and a midwife-led maternity facility. A renal dialysis unit ensures patients can access treatment closer to home. Deanestor provided both loose and bespoke fitted furniture for 142 rooms throughout the new hospital. This included storage units, medicine cabinets, height-adjustable changing benches, bedroom wardrobes, foldaway beds in some inpatient rooms, nurse stations, and a main reception desk with a walnut wood-effect finish and contrasting glacier white solid surface countertops. Bespoke joinery was also manufactured and installed by Deanestor for a new six-bay suite for chemotherapy and renal patients to help create a more welcoming patient environment. The white low-level counters are designed to house medical gases and

vacuum outlets, and incorporate lighting, solid surface worktops, oak privacy screens, coat and bag storage, and IPS panels. A durable laminate finish was used for the storage solutions in two shades of blue to reflect the sky and the sea in the surrounding landscape. As part of the infection control strategy, infill panels were designed to fully integrate the wall cupboards up to the ceiling to avoid dust gathering on top of the units in the clinical areas.

■ For more information on Deanestor’s range of healthcare furniture visit www.rdr.link/lae014

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SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS & PUBLIC BUILDINGS ROUND-UP Altro helps integrate art into new hospital building The positive impact of an enhanced environment is incontrovertible in modern healthcare — staff and patient experience is improved by art; the impact on wellbeing and outcomes is signiﬁcant. So it is ﬁtting that the new 34,600m2, Grafton Way Building at the University College of London Hospital (UCLH) incorporates more than 100 original pieces of art — commissioned by Guy Noble, Arts Curator with UCLH Arts and Heritage Programme and his team. The artwork by Lucy Gough, Eloise Renouf and Alex Echo has been printed on Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) wall sheets forming part of the fabric of the building. The project was made possible through the use of Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom), which is created by reproducing a photographic image or design on to Altro Whiterock wall cladding using UV cured inks, with consistent, photographic quality. Hard-coat technology provides scratchresistant properties for added surface protection.

■ More information on the Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) here www.rdr.link/lae015 New rapid gutter repair solution Firestone Building Products has launched RubberGutter; an EPDM gutter repair and upgrade system that can extend the service life of gutters and protect social housing, schools and public sector buildings from leaks. The solution is designed to solve issues with cracked or leaking gutters and can be used on metal, concrete, plywood lined and valley gutters. The prefabricated system provides consistent uniformity of the membrane and, due to its advanced Secure Bond technology, strong adhesion is guaranteed across the entire gutter repair, with no adhesive application required on site. Additional prefabricated details, including the RubberGutter drain, can be used to complete the installation, connecting to the membrane using Firestone’s EasySealant, which provides a strong, watertight connection. The product contains no VOCs or plasticisers.

■ More information on RubberGutter, including product literature, here www.rdr.link/lae016

Renfrewshire Council makes the grade for school security With schools previously using complex master key systems, Renfrewshire Council faced a number of challenges, including consistency of approach, who had access to keys, and how this was managed. To address these challenges, the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group recommended its ASSA CLIQ Remote solution. To date, this has been installed in a total of 76 premises in Renfrewshire, covering a mix of primary schools, secondary schools and early learning centres. The ASSA CLIQ uses high-end microelectronics and programmable keys and cylinders to help the schools stay in control of access rights at all times. Schools can update each key remotely, removing or granting access privileges for the key holder in real time. This ensures only those with the necessary access rights can enter an area, eliminating the security risks associated with lost and stolen keys, while ensuring schools can easily be opened up by other trusted individuals if the senior facilities operative is unable to unlock the premises themselves.

■ To find out more about ASSA CLIQ visit www.rdr.link/lae017

Specification guide reveals steps to achieving better system water quality Spirotech’s 16-page problem solving speciﬁcation guide, ‘Best in Class Heating’, explores the issues that can arise in heating systems in schools, colleges and universities, refurbishment or new-build. It outlines eight steps to achieving better system water quality, alongside highlighting speciﬁc technologies best suited to particular solutions. The guide points out that the system water is the most important component in any closed heating or cooling system and maintaining it in a good condition is critical. Where there is an issue, carrying out a water quality test can help identify the nature of the problem and help suggest the solution. Spirotech is also offering schools and colleges two levels of system water testing, from a basic sampling and laboratory analysis to a full water analysis and in-depth report.

■ The specification guide is available to download here www.rdr.link/lae018

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DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE

More than 500 fire doors have been replaced in Irwell Valley Homes’ properties

Fully certified doorsets with fire resistant hardware are fitted as standard in the social housing provider’s properties

Fire safety compliance Kamila Kasperowicz, Marketing Director at UAP, tells LABM how installation-ready fire doors are enhancing safety and reducing risk for Irwell Valley Homes.

ocial housing providers have a duty of care to maintain their housing stock under the Decent Homes Standard, to ensure that they are both safe and habitable. Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy five years ago, there has been an even greater focus on fire safety in all aspects of property maintenance and upgrades. It’s a responsibility that Greater Manchester social housing provider, Irwell Valley Homes, takes very seriously. So much so that the organisation has a compliance team that inspects its 8,000 homes on a rolling programme to prioritise upgrade works to fire safety. One of the key areas surveyed for safety and compliance is the fire doors in the properties. Over the past two years, more than 500 fire doors have been replaced in Irwell Valley Homes properties, in both residential towers and smaller apartment blocks. Specialist contractor, Jackson Jackson & Sons works closely with doorset manufacturer, PDS and hardware manufacturer, UAP to deliver the fire door upgrades, as part of a wider programme of fire safety improvements. Dan Williams, Contracts Manager at Jackson Jackson explains: “Every year, we receive a schedule of properties that are due for upgrade works from Irwell Valley Homes and we work collaboratively with

their compliance team to prioritise the upgrades and agree a schedule. “Once we have agreed a programme with the client, we carry out joint surveys with PDS to ensure that the correct specification of doorset is ordered for each installation, aligned to the agreed schedule.”

Putting residents first The most recent fire door upgrade project carried out by Jackson Jackson for Irwell Valley homes using PDS doorsets with UAP hardware was at Eastwood Court, a block of sheltered housing apartments in Bury, Greater Manchester. The upgrade for the four-storey housing involved both

replacement of all fire doors and improvements to the fire stopping. Following the initial surveys, the Jackson Jackson team met with the residents’ association and the properties’ management team to discuss what the programme involved and show tenants what the doors would look like when they were finished. Dan continues: “Almost all the upgrades we do are in occupied properties so it’s really important that we make people aware of what will be happening and how it will benefit them. We also want to reassure tenants that the improvements will be done at no cost to them and that their new doors and any

Irwell Valley Homes’ Eastwood Court, a block of sheltered housing apartments in Bury, Greater Manchester

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DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE

Once we have agreed a “programme with the client, we carry out joint surveys with PDS to ensure that the correct specification of doorset is ordered for each installation, aligned to the agreed schedule.

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other work we carry out will be fully certified to the current standards.” Part of that reassurance for tenants is in the level of testing and quality assurance carried out by the joined-up supply chain. Whilst there is currently no mandatory certification required for retrofitted fire doors, a requirement for bilateral fire resistance test evidence for all fire doorset installations, including refurbishment works, is expected as part of the forthcoming Fire Safety Bill. For Irwell Valley Homes, fully certified doorsets with fire resistant hardware are already fitted as standard. At Eastwood Court, the requirement was for FD30 solid timber doors with integral smoke seals to provide 30 minutes of effective protection against both smoke and flames for the entrance to every property. Kevin Barnes, Sales Director at PDS explains: “As this is a low-rise apartment block, 30 minutes protection is sufficient to enable safe evacuation of all residents. Our doorsets provide protection from fire and smoke from both sides of the door having been successfully tested to the more rigorous and very latest EN1634 dual

orientation testing specification as complete doorsets with all UAP hardware installed, contributing to smooth project delivery, whilst providing high levels of safety for residents.”

Joined-up supply chain PDS supplied the doorsets for Eastwood Court as installation-ready units, with a complete set of UAP hardware from the company’s Firemongery range, including handles, a Soterian TS008 compliant fire rated letter plate and a 14mm fire resistant door viewer (spyhole). Kevin Barnes continues: “The doorsets are manufactured by us to a proven quality and high specification with all UAP Firemongery hardware, intumescent fire and smoke seals, threshold seal and overhead closer pre-installed and fully tested by Warrington Fire. “We work closely with UAP to ensure that new door designs are specified with the right hardware first time, enabling a smooth testing and certification process. The hardware is not just fire rated, it also looks good, which means that the

PDS supplied the doorsets for Eastwood Court as installation-ready units, with a complete set of UAP hardware

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Soterian TS008 compliant fire rated letter plate

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finished door answers the housing association’s safety requirements, while providing an appearance that every resident can be proud of.” Replacement of all 50 apartment entrance doors at Eastwood Court was completed in just two and a half weeks, with the strategy of utilising certified FD30 doorsets with pre-installed fire resistant hardware enabling faster installation and a smoother programme. Rick Winnard, Senior Planned Surveyor from Irwell Valley Homes adds: “Tenant safety and comfort are priorities for us. Using this joined up supply chain with full Warrington Fire certification of the doorsets, including pre-installed UAP Firemongery hardware, ensured we have clear accountability for safety and compliance, along with reduced disruption for residents, thanks to a fast and efficient programme.”

■ For more information on UAP visit www.rdr.link/lae019 ■ For more information on UAP’S Firemongery hardware visit www.rdr.link/lae020

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DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE

Eurocell’s high performance PVC-U window profiles, technical expertise, and commitment to a sustainable future, is helping to underpin the success of a major property maintenance and refurbishment project in Birmingham.

Wates brought in long-term fabrication supplier Shelforce to oversee the manufacture of the window solution

A window on successful collaboration

s a result of the work undertaken in tandem with project lead, construction company, Wates, and fabrication partner, Shelforce, many of Birmingham’s social housing tenants are now benefiting from improved property insulation, lower energy bills, and aesthetically pleasing building exteriors, thanks to the specification and installation of new attractive windows with a minimum design life expectancy of 35 years. Wates, one of the UK’s largest construction and property services companies, won the tender to deliver a programme of property refurbishment for Birmingham City Council in 2016. The programme is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of over 31,000 low- and high-rise properties currently under the control of the council. Among the primary elements of the overall project — which has now run successfully for over five years — has been to address the need to replace a large volume of windows in properties across some housing estates, as well as refurbish those situated in tower blocks around the city. From a technical perspective, some of the key challenges Wates faced were to ensure that the window replacement solutions would overcome issues such as wind driven water access and have the proven ability to withstand wind pressures

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generated by the height of the tower blocks, as well as being able to meet the council’s aesthetic and sustainability objectives with a flexible, proven, and long-lasting window replacement solution. Wates brought in its long-term fabrication supplier, Erdington-based Shelforce, to oversee the manufacture of the window solution required to support the extensive and ongoing refurbishment programme.

Material supply and collaboration To ensure the secure supply of the quantity, quality and finish of profiles as stated in the council’s original window specification, Shelforce joined forces with Eurocell in what has been a highly successful material supply and technical collaboration that has supported the overall refurbishment works in recent years. Gary Driscoll, Sales & Commercial Director at Eurocell, explains how the partnership works: “Eurocell supplies Shelforce with the Logik70 profile in an anthracite grey colour, as well as in standard white, in line with its material orders on a weekly basis. We also collaborate on technical aspects of projects around the window design. This, for example, can often be due to the challenges of dealing with the wind pressures exerted on high-rise tower block building windows that necessitate the inclusion of additional reinforcement within the window design. We supply all items to

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Shelforce in PVC-U apart from the reinforcement components or couplers, which are provided in either aluminium or steel dependent on requirements.” The joint desire of Eurocell and Shelforce to work together to create solutions to some of the technical challenges on the maintenance programme, has resulted in the development of a hybrid system, as Howard Trotter, Business Manager at Shelforce, highlights: “Any window runs over five metres need expansion joints, which is not something that is readily available in PVC-U. We have therefore developed a hybrid system using aluminium and Eurocell PVC-U which has been tested to BS 6375 for weather proofing and passed all regulatory standards.”

Building for the future With much focus on the delivery of sustainable construction solutions that reduce the impact on the environment, having a green perspective has also been important for all partners, as the refurbishment project has unfolded in recent years. With the original tender secured by Wates stipulating sustainability objectives such as the need for zero nonhazardous waste going to landfill, it is clear that caring for the environment has been crucial to the success of the programme. Eurocell has been able to make a significant contribution in this regard.

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With its own recycling plants that transform old waste plastic products into new and reusable PVC-U profiles, all extrusions sent to Shelforce for fabrication come from a recycled source. In addition, the partnership approach across the programme now sees Eurocell work with Wates to collect and recycle the old windows being replaced. Such waste materials are then reused for making the new window profiles that Shelforce fabricates, which can also support the future needs of the ongoing maintenance and replacement project across the city. Howard concludes: “Without doubt, we have seen a lot of benefit from our relationship with Eurocell across this important and significant city-wide refurbishment scheme. It has provided excellent technical support when required, including the provision of in-house training, as well as maintaining material supply despite the operational difficulties brought

on by the pandemic. This has enabled Shelforce to continue to optimise fabrication production and supply to Wates and kept the project on track.”

Improved housing Birmingham’s residents are enjoying improved housing conditions as new high performing window solutions remove draught-related problems and help to better insulate their living spaces. Not only are the Eurocell-profiled windows underpinning the practical benefits the refurbishment programme is designed to deliver, but the subsequent attractive aesthetic appeal of the newly installed windows is also making a positive contribution to local community landscapes across Birmingham. Finally, all stakeholders recognise that important sustainability objectives are also being met through the specification of the new windows that emanate from a recycled source and are set, according to

Eurocell and Shelforce worked together to develop a hybrid window system for the

the Building Research Establishment, to deliver long-lasting design life expectancy into the middle of this century.

■ For more information on Eurocell and its products visit www.rdr.link/lae021 ■ For more information on Shelforce visit www.rdr.link/lae032

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DOORS, WINDOWS & HARDWARE ROUND-UP

Sentry Doors now offers UKCA accreditation on its ﬂat entrance ﬁre safety doorsets

Window speciﬁers advised to ‘fact check’ around Future Homes Standard

Sentry Doors, a leading supplier of fire safety doors, now offers UKCA accreditation on its entire range of FD30S flush and glazed doorsets. This follows a bi-directional burn test of its double glazed range, including its double glazed doorsets complete with double glazed and panel sidelight. Having been the first fire door manufacturer to achieve UKCA accreditation to the new standard in January 2022, Sentry is pleased to build on its leading position in fire safety door compliance. The UKAS accredited lab tested doorsets comprising of the door leaf and a glazed panel sidelight, alongside a door leaf with a range of Sentry’s glazing combinations, to ensure all variations were compliant. Each test exceeded the minimum 30minute time requirement for an FD30S doorsets, demonstrating the overall integrity of the doorset and the superiority of the product. This accreditation offers customers complete confidence in these products. The United Kingdom Conformity Assessment mark (UKCA) is a replacement of the CE mark used in the European Union, for mainland UK. UKCA serves as a declaration of performance to the essential characteristics in accordance with the harmonised standards. The UKCA marking came into effect in January 2021, as a result of the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, with businesses granted an extension until the 1st of January 2023 to transition to the UKCA marking from CE marking.

Window specifiers in the local authority sector are being urged to pay close attention to the latest information regarding the Future Homes Standard, after the first changes officially came into force on 15th June 2022. Technical experts at polymer window systems manufacturer, REHAU has aired concern that following several years of fluctuating information and debate around the topic, architects and specifiers could be left with multiple sources of conflicting advice. Mark Gajda is Head of Technical Services and Certification at the systems company and has been leading a project to ensure its high-performance PVC-U continues to exceed all relevant Building Regulations. Mark says: “The Future Homes Standard is of course not new. It has been high on the news agenda for a number of years now, and it’s this level of content and debate around it that could risk people being served the wrong information.” In response, Mark and his team have developed a series of four fact sheets for architects, specifiers and surveyors which aim to provide a brief introduction to the changes, projected timeline, and targets. Two of which cover energy efficiency requirements under Part L for new-build and refurbishment projects, and the other two address ventilation standards through Part F for the same. The content series comes as part of REHAU’s wider ‘In The Frame’ initiative, which aims to help specifiers navigate their way through the complex landscape of Building Regulations, technical specifications, and sustainability.

■ Discover Sentry Door’s full range of FD30S external UKCA doorsets here www.rdr.link/lae022

■ You can download REHAU’s free fact sheets here www.rdr.link/lae023

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Putting pedestrian safety first GEZE UK has revised and updated its RIBA-approved CPD Safeguarding Pedestrians from Accidents at Power Operated Doorsets for architects and specifiers. The 40-minute seminar looks at the European Standard EN 16005 in detail and explains the responsibilities of all involved to ensure safety and compliance at all stages of construction. It explains everything from activation distances for escape routes and nonescape routes; the danger points of automatic sliding, swing and revolving doors and how safety features such as finger guards and protection leaves can be used to reduce the risk of injury; and looks at revolving doors which are potentially the most dangerous and have received the most significant changes. This updated training seminar gives a better understanding of the standards and regulations surrounding pedestrian safety at automatic doors.

■ To book a CPD seminar, visit the CPD information page on www.geze.co.uk under services. DHF launches revised technical specification Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) is making available the revised technical specification, DHF TS 008:2022, Enhanced Security and General Requirements for Letter Plate Assemblies and Slide Through Boxes. This publication supersedes DHF TS 008:2015, which is now withdrawn. The technical specification document provides a means of evaluation against opportunist attack and defines the classification required for testing for a compliant product, in particular, letter plate assemblies that enable mail to pass directly through a door or door side panel. The specification applies to complete letter plate assemblies and slide through boxes placed on the market, either fully assembled or as a kit. DHF’s General Manager and Secretary, Michael Skelding, says: “In the new standard, the ‘fishing’ test has been improved to ensure that compliant products have adequate resistance to key fishing.”

■ For more information on DHF TS 008 visit www.rdr.link/lae024

New riser door range Profab Access has developed the VEGA 1500 Fire Rated Series Riser Door, which provides architects and speciﬁers with an affordable yet compliant solution, ideal for installation in social housing. Extensively bi-directionally tested by Efectis in France and Ireland, the riser door is suitable for use in standard ﬂexible stud wall construction and with all board manufacturers. The lightweight, easy to install solution provides permanent and safe access to mechanical and electrical services housed within a riser core. The riser doorsets are fire tested from both sides for 60 minutes and are supplied with comprehensive certification. The product is supplied as standard with Profab Access’ PRECISION adjustable frame, which is said to reduce fitting times by up to 30%. The engineered frame also features built in factory applied intumescent fire-rated mastic strips to the outer frame, which provides fire stopping between the wall and the frame.

■ For more information on the VEGA 1500 Fire Rated Series Riser Door visit www.rdr.link/lae025

Intelligent wireless access control Abloy UK is highlighting the functionality of its intelligent SMARTair wireless access control solution that gives Facilities Managers full control to lock down access to areas, or an entire building, quickly and safely in an emergency. With a single command, doors equipped with SMARTair devices may be set to ‘Block Mode’ and can only be unlocked with a specific credential. This means that apart from designated staff, no one onsite can move around freely. Alternatively, the ‘Emergency Close’ function can lock all openings remotely and simultaneously, but an authorised credential may still unlock them. As a third option, every device can be set to ‘Emergency Open’, which unlocks them all. This could provide fire services with instant access to a whole building or site, for example. A Facilities Manager can pre-define over 250 different lockdown ‘zones’. This level of control could protect people and valuable assets — or in extreme situations, even save lives.

■ More information on SMARTair is available here www.rdr.link/lae026

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Digital twins

80% of the buildings that will exist by 2050 have already been built

Keivan Djahanbani, Senior Project Consultant at IES, discusses using technology to unlock maximum sustainability in local council retrofitting programmes.

ecently, the Commons Environmental Audit Committee Chairman, Philip Dunne MP, spoke out about the need for ministers to address the need to dramatically reduce the number of buildings being knocked down as a climate change priority. Buildings hold a significant amount of locked-in carbon, which is wasted when they are knocked down and new carbon-intensive materials are then used to rebuild. To minimise the release of this locked carbon, there needs to be a greater focus on retrofitting existing buildings to make them functional for use without demolishing and putting something purpose built in its place. The UK Green Building Council says that 80% of the buildings that will exist by

2050 have already been built, so decarbonising the existing stock needs to be a major priority. Currently, in Europe, renovation rates stand at about 1%, largely because renovation is an uncertain investment; there are high upfront costs involved and the end energy and cost savings are only ballpark figures. However, technological advancements in climate technology for the built environment mean that this is changing. Instead of looking at an old building, perhaps built in a time when documentation was less regulated, and making assumptions about its performance, technology can be used in retrofitting to enable accurate performance measurement and remove the need for guesswork.

Using digital twins in local authority retrofit programmes One such technology that is helping to decarbonise the built environment is the digital twin. Digital twins are accurate digital models of buildings, the most sophisticated of which use physics-based simulations together with real data, artificial intelligence and machine learning to behave exactly like their real-world counterparts. These representations can be used to test different design options on a virtual version of a building first, in order to make better, data-driven decisions and accurately predict return on investment. Digital twins can be created for existing buildings to reveal how they need to be retrofitted to bring them in line with net zero or low emissions targets. This is achieved by testing upgrades before implementation, such as new windows, better insulation, renewables integration and HVAC system upgrades, to see which options will have the greatest impact. This has the overall result of extending a building’s life, minimising the need for demolition and the production of new materials, while also ensuring the building is operating with optimised energy use.

Warrington Borough Council As part of an Innovate UK project called REWIRE North West, Warrington Borough Council has created a digital twin of the district

As part of an Innovate UK project called REWIRE North West, Warrington Borough Council has created a digital twin of the district to identify energy, carbon and

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Digital twins are accurate “digital models of buildings, the most sophisticated of which use physics-based simulations together with real data, artificial intelligence and machine learning to behave exactly like their real-world counterparts.

”

The REWIRE North West project involves a residential model using EPC data on around 50,000 residential properties in the borough

cost-efficient measures across its building stock and map out datainformed paths to net zero. The project involves a residential model which used Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data on around 50,000 residential properties within the borough, including building characteristics, age band, main heating system and gross floor area, to create archetype models of four main types of homes: detached houses, semidetached houses, terraced houses and apartments. Archetypes were simulated to assess current energy consumptions and CO2 emissions across the borough. Using an Intelligent Virtual Network (iVN) tool that delivers a holistic view of the site, integrating electricity, heating, cooling, waste heat networks and shared energy across buildings, the supply and demand from buildings and community

assets was assessed. This assessment was then used to determine the flexibility required across the area to balance demand and evaluate ‘what if’ scenarios. Three retrofit scenarios were considered in the model: low-hanging fruits, such as filling cavity walls and insulating or topping up lofts; low-hanging fruits plus insulating solid walls; and a full retrofit entailing upgrading current standards of Part L of the Building Regulations, such as floor insulation, improved glazing and reduced infiltration. Using the results for the different retrofit scenarios, strategies for full decarbonisation of the district could be simulated. This was initially assessed for two different neighbourhoods of around 500 homes. The most optimal solutions for decarbonising were found for each area, looking at heat pumps and district heating,

Using an iVN tool the supply and demand from buildings and community assets was assessed

domestic PV and battery storage installation, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This has enabled the creation of bespoke pathways to net zero, with optimal strategies for each area depending on specific criteria such as the most prevalent built form and construction materials, spare capacity on the local substation, and the availability of offstreet parking.

Conclusion Using digital twin technology, local authorities and housing associations can make informed choices about how they manage retrofit programmes in the local area. There are considerations to be made around retrofitting, as refurbishment can be complicated, costly, and raise complications around wasted embodied carbon. When retrofitting buildings, wasted embodied carbon needs to remain a consideration. In some cases, it may be more carbon efficient to retrofit a G-rated building to a C-rated building, which is still not massively energy efficient but uses fewer materials than retrofitting to a higher standard or demolishing to make way for an A-rated building. Technology such as digital twins enables local authorities to remove the guesswork from their sustainable development plans and make decisions based on real-world data and accurate measurements.

■ For more information on digital twin technology and the services of IES visit www.rdr.link/lae027

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION The housing leaders Civica surveyed confirmed that building more affordable homes was a top priority

Building a bigger, greener legacy Civica’s latest survey of housing providers and residents shows a clear need for better value, safer and sustainable housing, explains Michelle Tyler, Managing Director, Housing at Civica.

he future of social housing is a hot topic. In June, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans for an extension to Right to Buy, the policy that allows council residents to but their home at a discount. Under the Government’s proposals, up to 2.5 million people who currently rent from a housing association, rather than the local council could now be entitled to purchase their home. The right to have access to and live safely in an affordable home should be a given in society today. But there are concerns in some quarters that the Government’s Rent to Buy extension will deplete the social housing stock available, making this less achievable for many. We recently carried out extensive research with social housing residents and

housing leaders across the UK to try to get under the skin of the big issues affecting the sector now. What we found and present

in our new report, ‘Greener homes, connected communities’, is that building more affordable homes is the number one

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We recently carried out “extensive research with social housing residents and housing leaders across the UK to try to get under the skin of the big issues affecting the sector now.

”

An inclusive process

priority for housing bodies. Addressing the current shortage of homes is still a pressing focus, with an added imperative to meet net zero targets through more sustainable building practices and greener homes.

A complex housing picture Of course, it’s not surprising that we found a wide range of challenges and goals for both residents and leaders. For example, when asked what was most important to them over the next 10-15 years, residents answered with everything from ‘more recycling’ to ‘safety of housing building materials’ to ‘mental health awareness’. As we recently marked the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it’s clear that the sector is placing greater emphasis than ever on the resident voice, encouraging people to develop a sense of ownership and contribute to the future of their housing organisation. This is proven by the increased volume of complaints to the Housing Ombudsman and legal disrepair claims, but also in resident survey. We found that the vast majority were comfortable sharing home truths and aiming to affect change through their voice. New building safety legislation, plus the Decent Homes standards are ensuring that housing providers are held to account and will provide safe, suitable housing for residents in need. Access to joined-up data and analytics platforms will prove crucial here — helping housing providers see the bigger picture of residents and homes to provide the best services possible.

Net zero is non-negotiable Across the UK, the housing leaders we surveyed confirmed that building more affordable homes was a top priority. But looking across the nations, there was a slightly different view, with meeting net zero targets gaining much support; dealing with the climate crisis is a huge priority. Around 14% of UK carbon emissions1 are caused by energy use in homes. In fact, the Climate Change Committee has recommended that all social housing meeting Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) C by 2030 be brought forward to 2028. But is this achievable? We uncovered a big difference in confidence in meeting this goal — between residents (44% for the UK as a whole) and housing leaders (90% for the UK as a whole and 94% for their individual organisation). Perhaps this latter confidence comes from inside knowledge of the detailed and widespread work already underway to make the UK’s social housing stock greener. Housing bodies would do well to communicate the great progress made to date to increase resident confidence. It may sound obvious but one of the biggest barriers is understanding what needs to be achieved. There’s lots more to consider than just meeting energy efficiency targets — it will require careful forecasting and budgeting. While we naturally turn our minds to what we could build in the future, a thorough evaluation of current stock with up-to-date asset databases will be invaluable.

We also found that bringing everyone along on the journey is vital. Housing leaders confirmed that employee behaviour was the biggest barrier to becoming carbon neutral, more so than costs or system issues. So education programmes and sharing best practice from both inside your organisation and others will help better foster this green spirit. Crucially, residents must be at the heart of this journey. Our survey suggested they are ready and willing to help. When asked about who should take financial responsibility for sustainability, they are happy to share some of the costs in areas such as energy-efficient appliances and outdoor green spaces. They are also fully behind greener technologies such as smart thermostats and energy monitors and would like to see them used more widely. The good news is that our current snapshot of the social housing sector shows that both residents and leaders want the same thing: cheaper, safer and greener homes which are available now and scaled up to meet tomorrow’s demand. Today’s residents are keener than ever to interact digitally, which will make it easier to listen, respond and move forward as a sector for the future. ________________________ 1 www.theccc.org.uk/publication/uk-housing-fit-for-thefuture/

■ Download a copy of Civica’s new report, ‘Greener homes, connected communities’ here: www.rdr.link/lae028

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ROUND-UP

Digital solution for Part L 2021 photographic evidence compliance

Using Artificial Intelligence to cut building energy bills

Social housing providers, housebuilders and developers in England and Wales will be required to provide qualitative photographic evidence that demonstrates that new homes produce 31% less CO2 emissions compared to the current requirements. This is to comply with the uplifted Part L standard (or Approved Document L 2021) of the UK’s Building Regulations, which came into force in June to drive further energy efficiencies in new-builds. To enable geo-located photos to be captured properly, correctly labelled, centrally stored and traced back to a property before being submitted to the assessor for sign off, Zutec has built a customisable solution to help speciﬁers stay ahead of the Part L requirement. Emily Hopson-Hill, Chief Operating Officer at Zutec says: “Working with our customers we have built a solution that can be integrated into a site quality management programme that enables geo-referenced photos to be captured from any device with or without a data connection.”

■ More information about Zutec’s Part L solution here www.rdr.link/lae029

Automation provides smart technology that can enable building management systems to produce substantial energy savings. Through efficient optimisation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system performance, arloid.ai boosts energy efficiency to cut carbon and reduce costs. Arloid Automation uses Deep Reinforcement Learning to automatically manage the operation of HVAC systems in a wide range of buildings via a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN). The innovative AI makes decisions based on reinforced behaviour and real-time data to provide faster optimisation and better HVAC performance. By controlling each HVAC device in the system and dividing the building into distinct heating and cooling microzones, it provides more nuanced control of the environment and better user comfort. Using AI to optimise building management systems can deliver energy savings and proactively ensure better user comfort, provide nuanced thermal conditions for sensitive buildings like hospitals and help organisations achieve their carbon targets.

■ More information on Arloid Automation and its services here www.rdr.link/lae030

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