Building From the Inside Out With the Skeleton House
FOREWORD
Welcome back to the Housing Industry Leaders Magazine, a premier source of insight and innovation for professionals shaping the future of the housing sector.
This latest edition comes to you as the dust settles on a major political shake up that promises major changes to the very systems the housing sector abides by. With a new government, and the colossal institutional changes it promises, the housing sector is at the heart of the political discourse as it strives deliver sustainable change throughout the country.
This issue examines some of the changes we might expect over the course of this new government, and welcomes the insights of the public sector to highlight their own progress and achievements to date. We also delve into the innovation shaping housebuilding practices today, and explore how a fresh approach could maximise results for both developers and tenants alike.
Floyd March Editor
Paul Rose Graphic Designer
Hannah Wintle Multi Media Journalist
The challenges for a social landlord when it comes to tackling the decarbonisation
The challenges for a social landlord when it comes to tackling the decarbonisation of our homes are recognisably different to those faced by owner occupiers.
Our tenants are at the heart of everything we do and we strive to never lose sight of our central mission – the provision of affordable homes for all. With this in mind, how can we balance net zero targeted heating system upgrades with the reality of ongoing cost of living challenges that may continue to effect household bills for years to come?
TENANTS CONSISTENTLY REPORT ENERGY COSTS AS THEIR BIGGEST WORRY
In 2023, 78% of our Cost of Living survey respondents told us they were very concerned about continuing to afford their energy bills. It’s clear we need to find solutions that not only speak to our ongoing sustainability commitments, but also offer value for money for tenants.
At West of Scotland Housing Association we know the solutions are out there, and they are not necessarily one-size-fits-all.
Our stock is not only disparate in terms of geography but also archetypes: over 20% of our stock is of pre-1919 construction. Some of this is “off grid” so the option of an air source heat pump (ASHP) provides a potential solution; but earlier models don’t have the same efficiency as more modern models. There can also be issues with using ASHP in tenements at higher levels and communal systems can be “ground hungry” in small back court common areas. The technology will continue to improve: however, we were keen to see what else was out there.
One of the more innovative solutions we are currently trialling and have had really positive feedback on thus far is new heating technology, NexGen ‘infrared’ wallpaper.
In the early months of 2024, WSHA became the first housing association in Scotland to begin trialling this pioneering new ‘electric’ wallpaper – an innovative, clean energy solution to rising heating costs and a possible alternative to air or ground source heat pumps.
The NexGen wallpaper is 4mm thick and includes a layer of Graphene which emits infrared waves when powered by electricity
Contrary to the name, it isn’t often applied to walls, but rather to the ceiling of a room.
The NexGen wallpaper is 4mm thick and includes a layer of Graphene which emits infrared waves when powered by electricity
When powered, the wallpaper heats a room from the top downwards, warming the residents and the surfaces of the home rather than heating the air like traditional heating systems. The resultant heat feels like gentle sunlight. Temperature is managed by the resident via an app or simple-to-use thermostatic controls.
This efficiency of this system is hoped to have a positive impact on household energy usage and running costs, translating into savings for tenants. Evidence from our monitoring thus far has shown that once a property reaches the desired temperature, heat is retained within the fabric of the property for a significant period after the heating itself has been switched off.
THIS MEANS THE PROPERTY COOLS
DOWN SLOWLY AND FEELS WARMER FOR LONGER
The wallpaper is also nearly invisible, eliminating bulky radiators and boilers, making better use of the space in tenants’ homes. The only sign the system is installed will be the thermostat.
Ms Catherine Henderson, a WSHA tenant who had the system installed in February this year said:
“It’s been absolutely fantastic, it heats up really fast compared to the other heating. I usually only have to put it on for a couple of hours in the morning and that does me all day. It’s never cold in here now. Before my heating was on 24 hours a day.”
In this trial stage, WSHA have fitted infra-red wallpaper into 10 mid-century terraced homes in Kirkfieldbank, South Lanarkshire, and 10 tenemental properties in Springburn and Woodlands, Glasgow.
The Glasgow installs will be a more in-depth study using the expertise of the University of Glasgow to provide quantitative analysis around usage and heat retention for us along with our partners Everwarm and NexGen Heating. We also hope to investigate an “all house” solution that provides both clean heating and hot water, as the infrared wallpaper is solely a heating source. We are looking at our options on this alongside our Net Zero consultant, Warmworks.
On the trials, WSHA’s Director of Development Andrew Kubski is optimistic about the impact of the product but tempers this with recognition that new technology always comes a learning curve:
“WSHA are constantly looking for efficient solutions that have positive impacts for our tenants. We have had really encouraging early indicators from NexGen’s system, supported by extremely positive feedback from residents. Like with all new technology, we are working with tenants to get the best out of the system, learning as we go. We hope this technology will be a significant step towards our Net Zero ambitions.”
WSHA are committed to embedding sustainability across our business model. In summer 2023 we implemented our first ever two-year Sustainability Strategy, with the goal of halving the organisation’s Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030. In this first year we have seen encouraging progress across all areas of our operations.
As they say, change starts at home and in our own offices, we’ve put many measures in place to lower the carbon footprint of our day-to-day, including enacting Friday as a mandatory home-working day, effectively negating the carbon emissions involved in staff commuting and building usage for 1/5 of our working week.
We’ve installed solar panels on the roof of our main offices, alongside sensor-activated lighting and insulating film in the windows, and funded EV pool cars and electric bicycles for staff, making it easier for the team to travel locally. These measures have had a real result, with energy use between our three main office sites significantly reduced. In terms of savings, our utility costs this year were approx. £33k less than the previous. This reduction in energy usage equates to an 18% reduction in carbon emissions for these sites.
In new build development, we have been consistently at the forefront of the application of energy-efficient technologies. In May this year, WSHA and our commercial subsidiary Westscot Living launched our second Passivhaus development with 90 MMR properties at Dundashill, Glasgow.
The homes make use of a super-insulated building fabric designed to create a high level of comfort and use very little energy for heating and cooling. Solar panels on the roof connect directly to each flat, further off-setting tenants’ energy costs, whilst innovative air-source heat pump technology for hot water and space heating requirements reduces the whole building’s carbon footprint.
Central to our sustainability goals is the belief that reducing our carbon footprint not only contributes to a healthier planet for all, but also ensures the longevity of the Association by securing the longterm viability of our homes, the health and comfort of our tenants, and contributing directly to our Value for Money strategy.
Whether Passivhaus or Infrared Wallpaper, we’ve never been shy about being the first to explore a new solution.
Bright Green Homes: A Beacon of Hope for Decarbonisation
It’s not an exaggeration to say times have been tough. The UK’s cost-of-living crisis, caused in part by the pandemic and exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, has pushed energy bills in the UK to around 29% higher than they were in the winter of 2021-22.
However, these issues, as unexpected and unwelcome as they were, aren’t the sole cause of high energy bills. While these drastic events have grabbed the headlines, the dent they have made would have been much smaller without existing structural issues. The UK’s poor quality of housing infrastructure means many households are unable to efficiently power their homes, so quite aside from the eye-watering cost per unit, the sheer number of units needed just to stay at baseline has driven many households into poverty.
COLD HOMES APLENTY
Poor insulation is one of the worst culprits. British homes are deemed the worst insulated in Europe and as a result, they lose heat up to three times faster than those of our European neighbours. This means that one out of every £3 spent on energy is wasted.
Not only does this issue hit us financially but it poses a serious health risk as many Brits are forced to limit heating to fit budgets –which can affect vital organs, mental function and immune systems. In fact, over the winter of 2022-23, it’s estimated that this cause alone took 4,950 lives. As we face a third winter of unaffordable heating, it is clear that urgent action is needed.
THE GOOD NEWS
Luckily, there are multiple solutions to increase energy efficiency and reduce bills for a wide range of homes and budgets – from the basics like insulation, through to solar panels and heat pumps. This article explores all of these considerations.
INSULATION
Probably the greatest unsung hero of the home improvement world is insulation. Perhaps you can feel yourself ageing tangibly as you utter the phrase cavity wall insultation, but whether its loft, underfloor or cavity wall – the right insultation will save you hundreds every winter and costs comparatively little to install. It may not be sexy, but do you know what is? This year’s saving of one in three of the pounds you spent on heating last winter.
Better insulation also includes window glazing, another popular tool to reduce loss of heat, costing between £100 to £300 per window.
HEAT PUMPS ON THE RISE
Heat pump technology is a great alternative to a gas or oil boiler, which, despite the initial financial outlay, saves thousands of pounds in the long-term, as heat pump owners generally need to buy little to no gas from the Grid. Both ground source and air source heat pumps transfer existing heat into a home’s heating system, making the pumps more environmentally friendly than traditional boilers – and to top it off, this system uses less energy to heat the home than traditional boiler and radiator systems.
Luckily, there are multiple solutions to increase energy efficiency and reduce bills for a wide range of homes and budgets
Up to 55,00 heat pumps were sold in the UK in 2022 and the new Labour government is facing calls from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) to help ramp up demand for heat pumps to help meet the ambition of net zero emissions by 2050. However, air source heat pumps aren’t necessarily within reach for all households, typically costing between £7,000 to £13,000 to install.
At present, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) provides grants to encourage property owners to replace older, less efficient boilers with more efficient, low carbon alternatives including heat pumps. These grants can total up to £7,500, but properties must be homes (including self-build) or small nondomestic buildings in England & Wales. Both new-builds and social housing are deemed ineligible for the BUS, which runs until late 2027.
TAPPING INTO SOLAR
Public attitudes are shifting on solar energy, and 70% of people who live in owner-occupied homes are considering installing solar panels within the next few years. In fact, residential installations represent 83% of solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption in the UK, accounting for 77% of the new capacity, equivalent to 46MW.
There is a clear need for solar panels across the UK and the efficiency and reliability of the technology means demand for residential installations will continue to grow. However, like heat pump technology, solar panels can be expensive to install and cost £7,000 on average.
The ECO4 scheme offers grants to install free upgrades including solar PV panels, but this is not accessible to all households. This is because ECO4 entails a number of criteria, which include: eligible households must be earning £31,000 or less; applicants must own the property themselves or live there with landlord’s permission; eligible homes must be deemed to have an inefficient heating system; homes must have a low energy efficiency (EPC) rating; applicants or those in the household must be in receipt of state benefits; the home must also be all-electric, with no oil or gas boilers or District Heat Network.
It can be tricky to know where to begin to make your home greener, but Bristol City Leap has emerged as a beacon of hope for residents in Bristol.
BRISTOL CITY LEAP SHOWS A WAY
It can be tricky to know where to begin to make your home greener, but Bristol City Leap has emerged as a beacon of hope for residents in Bristol. A joint partnership between Bristol City Council, Ameresco and subcontractor Vattenfall Heat UK, Bristol City Leap believes residents should have access to affordable energy and renewable upgrades as a bare minimum in order to tackle fuel poverty and support Bristol’s broader decarbonisation goals.
Since March 2023, Bristol City Leap has partnered with North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Councils to introduce Bright Green Homes. This scheme, which concludes in March 2025, has helped hundreds of local households in Bristol reduce their energy bills. It has done so through installation of insulation materials as well as heat pumps and solar PV panels. These measures help support a drive towards more sustainable living and cost-saving measures for lower income households.
To better understand this process, we spoke to Clive Carpenter, a local resident, about his recent experience retrofitting his home with a free heat pump and solar panels under Bright Green Homes. Clive says that because of the efficient installation and communication processes, he knows much more about how these technologies work, and how swiftly and conveniently they can be installed.
Bright Green Homes directly addresses a lack of adequate energy infrastructure in the region. Opening sustainable solutions to lower-income residents means homes in need of retrofitting are equipped with reliable sources of energy, as they don’t rely on connecting to the grid to power. Implementing efficient uses of renewable energy in homes can lead to reduced consumption which, in turn, reduces the potential cost of bills for households feeling the pinch most.
Click here to see Clive’s retrofitting journey through Bright Green Homes.
To find out more about home installation, heat pumps and solar PV panels, or if you simply want to know more about Bright Green Homes, click here to visit the Bristol City Leap website.
Call for Policy Reform to Unlock the Potential of Green Belt Sites
A national planning and development consultancy has called for the Labour government’s review of national planning policy guidance to provide clarity to local planning authorities (LPAs) on how they can develop tailored local policies to support investment and growth at developed sites within the Green Belt.
Following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent announcement regarding Green Belt development, Lichfields highlights the potential economic and social benefits of planning reform.
In new research published, it refers to the inherent challenges posed by current national Green Belt policy guidance that could stifle, or at least delay, investment and undermine the ability for existing businesses to improve their facilities, remain competitive and continue delivering a range of important services.
The ‘Major Developed Sites in the Green Belt – The Land That Policy Forgot?’ report reveals that a portion of the Green Belt, which includes approximately 12.6% of England’s land area, is developed for a range of uses including leisure and tourism with theme parks and other major attractions, education, medical institutions, business parks, transport infrastructure etc.
Pre-2012 national policy used to recognise many of these locations as Major Developed Sites (MDS)
Lichfields explains that pre-2012 national policy used to recognise many of these locations as Major Developed Sites (MDS) and provided clearer guidance on how LPAs should assess development proposals, but this was removed by the 2012 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
This established more subjective, generalised guidance, stripping out the detail around how an LPA could approach the identification, definition and guidance of development at such sites in local plans, potentially limiting the ability of these sites to evolve and contribute to local economies and services.
Ian York, a Planning Director at Lichfields and coauthor of the report, said: “Our research shows that the majority of LPAs are adopting generalised policies that repeat national guidance.
“We must move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and adopt local, bespoke policies that recognise the unique characteristics of these sites. The report urges LPAs to engage with landowners and operators to create detailed policies that clearly define development parameters, ensuring these sites can thrive without compromising Green Belt integrity.”
The research shows that of the 180 LPAs with Green Belt land, only a third have adopted criteria-based, bespoke policies
The research shows that of the 180 LPAs with Green Belt land, only a third have adopted criteriabased, bespoke policies, while two-thirds default to generic NPPF guidelines.
This local policy context means less certainty for owners and operators to plan for the future of their sites where there is a continuous need, in the case of theme parks and leisure attractions for example, to renew and refresh attractions and overnight accommodation to ensure they remain attractive to visitors and competitive.
Furthermore, there’s a regional disparity in the policy approach, with the North West of England having the highest reliance on generic NPPF-based Green Belt policies and the South East of England leading in bespoke policies.
York added: “National Government has a very important part to play. With the new Labour government’s commitment to update the NPPF within its first 100 days, there is a crucial opportunity to reintroduce policy guidance akin to the previous MDS framework. This will provide much-needed clarity and support for LPAs and developers alike.”
Lichfields urges policymakers to consider these recommendations seriously. Tailored local policies are essential to unlocking the full potential of developed Green Belt sites, enabling them to significantly contribute to local economies, enhance community services, and support sustainable growth across the UK.
IMPLICATIONS FOR OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF GREEN BELT PDL
The scale of this changing policy trend from ‘local bespoke’ to ‘national generic’ potentially creates a significant issue for owners and operators of PDL sites who want to invest.
Without a local, more detailed PDL policy, the NPPF provides the default approach for decision-makers. The NPPF requirement that infill development and redevelopment proposals should not have a greater impact on the openness of the Green Belt than the existing development implies that every planning application for any type of new development on Green Belt PDL has to demonstrate that it will result in no additional impact (or harm) on Green Belt openness to be considered “appropriate.” This is a very ‘high bar’ to overcome and ultimately is determined using a subjective rather than criteria-based assessment.
If unsuccessful, applicants much seek to demonstrate “very special circumstances” (VSC) to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt. This often requires a detailed assessment of matters such as the need for the development, alternative sites (outside the Green Belt and inside where the development might have a reduced impact) and other benefits (e.g. economic – job creation and investment). The VSC requirement introduces a great deal of uncertainty for operators and developers and often significant resources are needed to gather together a robust, evidenced case.
This ‘blanket’ NPPF policy approach to assessing appropriateness does not account for the specific characteristics and function of developed sites, including the pattern and grain of existing development.
An example of a Local Plan PDL criteria-based policy (adopted post-NPPF 2012) that provides a clear steer on how the LPA will assess proposals for development in the Green Belt is included below.
Reliance on the NPPF therefore can result in inefficiencies and uncertainties for applicants, local communities and decision-makers.
The Local Plan is the place to remedy this, to provide certainty on:
f defining the PDL curtilage of major developed sites; and
f the features of a given site that will be used to guide and assess applications within these defined PDL areas.
It is therefore very important that operators and landowners of PDL are alert to the opportunities to influence emerging draft policy through submitting representations to Local Plan reviews.
Local Plan reviews do not happen on a sufficiently regular basis and once they are adopted they can be in place for a significant numbers of years (decades for the worse performing LPAs). If these opportunities are missed it results in PDL sites having to operate within the tight constraints of these generic Green Belt policies, potentially restricting investment and growth, which surely was not the intention of the NPPF review in its treatment of Green Belt PDL sites.
Building From the Inside Out with the Skeleton House
The UK is facing mounting pressure to build, perhaps now more than ever with the reinstatement of housebuilding targets. The government’s mission to ‘get Britain building again’, emphasised in the Chancellor’s inaugural speech last month, outlines a clear focus for the sector moving forwards.
Perhaps, to meet these targets, an innovative approach is required that not only streamlines efficiency, but delivers quality and eco-conscious housing through practical, flexible, and replicable methods.
It is these values that form the basis of Hope Architects’ Skeleton House system, which at its core comprises a range of standardised components that facilitate multiple configurations of home layouts for timely, efficient building.
CREATING ROOMS AS THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF DESIGN
Having identified two major challenges when it comes to housebuilding - decades of work resulting in portfolios of too many inconsistent house designs that are difficult to replicate, and the consequent struggle to organise them consistently on a plot of landDirector Phil Cooper sought to create a different approach.
“The idea came out of those two problems really. We thought there could be a way of not having a house range, but instead having a series of house type components that can be quickly assembled into houses of different shapes and sizes,” he explained.
As such, the rooms themselves, which were meticulously designed and standardised over the course of months, became the building blocks of the Skeleton House, unlocking the ability to reconfigure layouts time and time again to create a multitude of different house types.
This approach also means that materials, even down to the number of kitchen tiles needed, can be standardised, reducing costs and improving efficiency when approaching suppliers.
“We spent literally about two and a half months just drawing staircases. We wanted to find the layout of staircase that gave the most flexibility because it’s a critical part of a house. If you can make all of your houses use the same staircase, you gain a huge amount of standardisation and optimization when it comes to cost.”
These standardised designs result in tangible benefits when it comes to construction. Efficiencies that seem small in isolation equate to significant time savings and quality improvements, as construction workers learn to replicate the same designs over and over again, in every skeleton house they build.
If you can simplify it, then more people can do it better and faster.
SKELETON HOUSE IS A ‘CONSTRUCTION AGNOSTIC’ SYSTEM
The fixed nature of each room design doesn’t however equate to restriction when it comes to materials or aesthetics. Phil said: “We are construction agnostic. We don’t come to this with any belief about how you should build these. We design it from the inside out.”
This also means that any scheme designs rejected by the planning board can be mocked up again with a completely new façade, while internally no changes have been made. “If you can get through planning faster, that helps get on site faster, as well as saving time on site,” Phil added.
ACCOMMODATING NET ZERO DURING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Phil also acknowledged that there are multiple approaches to reducing emissions, and so the system is designed to be as accommodating to these as possible.
“We don’t want to have a system which says ‘this is the way of dealing with net zero’, because I don’t think anybody can say that. I don’t think there is one solution. There are lots of different solutions,” he said.
We don’t want to have a system which says ‘this is the way of dealing with net zero.
In the Skeleton House, considerations around net zero are evident in the various iterations of its standardised bathroom, where incorporated into the design is a cupboard which always sits on an external wall.
This can house an array of services, from a gas boiler, to a hot water cylinder fed by solar or heat pump, and has all the necessary plumbing and electrical connections as standard.
Each house is therefore future-proofed, unlocking the potential for more eco-friendly technologies to be introduced when necessary.
Additionally, thanks to the aforementioned standardisation of construction materials required, the amount of waste is significantly reduced.
Each room, and therefore house at large, is designed in whole numbers of bricks. In negating the need to cut bricks, not only is on-site safety improved, but the carbon embodied in the wouldbe waste is mitigated.
THE SYSTEM COULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE SOCIAL HOUSING SECTOR
In the early stages of developing and designing the Skeleton House system, which Phil says was a contributing factor to its creation, is the power of housing associations to acquire land only to encounter difficulties when it comes to actually building houses on it.
Phil said: “A lot of them have to go back to conventional housebuilders and say, ‘We’re stuck. We bought this site for 400 houses. We’re not getting through planning and we have no idea how to build it.’
“They end up only getting 300 units out of it because they’re having to give away 100 units to the developer who’s going to build it out for them.
“Part of our thought was if we can help housing associations design more rationally, have better control of their costs, they’re going to get a better outcome when they go out to tender with their planning approvals, so we think this really could help housing associations and local authorities.”
Looking to the future, Hope Architects are keen to work with housing associations to maximise the benefits of the Skeleton House system in social housing.
While the approvals process often takes longer in the public sector, combined with the potential need to acquire funding from Homes England, Phil believes that the system’s inherent advantages from procurement to delivery could make it a great candidate for social housing.
Ultimately, however, he highlighted that along with the rewards reaped throughout the design and construction phases for the developer, the residents themselves are left to enjoy a thoughtfully designed, good quality home.
“I think one of the things that’s always been at the core of why I’ve been doing what I’m doing all these years is that I’m passionate about where people live and how people live.
“While we might be doing 20 homes that are identical, that’s for 20 individual people who might have kids, they might have grandparents living with them, they might be from a religion that uses the house in a certain way.
“All of those people deserve good spaces both inside and outside of the house, and that’s at the core of what we’re trying to do here, we’re always trying to create those spaces and maximise the opportunities for people to live their best lives.”
DOWN TO ZERO
In this episode, we welcome Tom Addiscott, MSc, PcET, Project Manager of Down to Zero at Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, to highlight how the National Lottery funded Down to Zero programme is helping to tackle climate change, and how the scheme will benefit the local community.
HIL: Can you tell me how the Down to Zero scheme came about and the route to finalising it in its current form?
Tom: So, obviously we’re all mandated to be net zero by 2050, from a UK government perspective. It’s absolutely essential for the climate change need. I suppose the need to do it for the Cynon Taf Community Housing Group came with the major flooding that happened in 2020.
A lot of our tenants and a lot of our communities were adversely impacted by Storm Dennis, and I think from that moment on, we needed to support not just more resilient communities, but we needed to do something to tackle the climate change agenda, so they set up a strategic steering group.
There was a major consultation piece, not just around the tenants, but it was around the communities, qualitative and quantitative. So lots coming through about carbon capture, developing agroforestry systems, ensuring that we’re supporting biodiversity development.
There was a major consultation piece, not just around the tenants, but it was around the communities
But a lot around the decarbonisation of homes and ensuring we get that right as well and we don’t lose focus – every carbon management plan needs to be centred around reducing your carbon before you offset your carbon. So that was a key area of where that came from, really.
HIL: I believe you were awarded National Lottery Funding. Can you tell me a little bit more about that?
Tom: There was a funding opportunity as soon as I came into post, and that was the Welsh Government Sustainable Steps Program. That program is about tackling climate change and supporting behaviour change within the climate agenda, not just for local people, the local organisations and the wider context as well.
So, we applied to that, and that’s Welsh Government Dormant Assets Scheme administered by the lottery. It was £335,000 that we successfully acquired from that, and that’s over a four year period. And I genuinely think it was Cynon Taf’s upfront investment that set the tone for that lottery funding to be successful as well. People are looking at thinking, ‘Wow, look at this. This is a whole system approach, a whole ethos report. This is something we’re going to get behind’
I genuinely think it was Cynon Taf’s upfront investment that set the tone for that lottery funding to be successful as well.
HIL: If you had to say what the overall aim of the scheme would be, what would you define that as?
Tom: The overall aim of the scheme is to work with local people to capture carbon and tackle food security. They go hand in hand. It’s not something you can do without the other.
We capture carbon through our agroforestry development, which is a recognised greenhouse gas removal strategy. So, it’s not just about avoiding carbon emissions, it’s about actively capturing them then as well. We’re looking at purchasing land. We’re currently looking into a site at the moment to increase forestry yields and it’s about doing that sustainably again, so that’s a key element of the plan, carbon capture through agroforestry.
Similarly, it’s about carbon capture through biochar as well. Essentially biochar is an alternative to a peat-based compost. And it’s gone through a process called pyrolysis, where wood matter is burnt without oxygen, so without oxygen present. And what it does is it captures the carbon in that wood and puts it in a solidified matter.
We’ve named it Llysh Bocs, and the whole point of that then is to increase localised yield, support with that farm to fork process, so from the farm straight to the consumers fork.
We’ve named it Llysh Bocs, and the whole point of that then is to increase localised yield, support with that farm to fork process, so from the farm straight to the consumers fork, straight to a tenant’s fork, straight to a staff’s fork, straight to the local people’s forks, so we’re actually improving that local food security as well.
HIL: I know you held a consultation with locals, and so what did Cynon Taf residents have to say about it at that point?
So when you actually put that biochar into the soil then, what it does is it improves the soil to keep carbon within the soil. But it’s actually interrupting the carbon cycle and putting the carbon captured from the trees back into the soil. So again, it’s a recognised greenhouse gas removal strategy that is essential to meet the decarbonisation and carbon savings targets as a group.
And again, like I said, it’s really important that we don’t do this in isolation. So when we’re working on that, there is a major opportunity to tackle local problems for local people and there is no bigger problem at this moment in time in terms of food security, and that’s where we’re looking to develop the veg box subscription service working with.
Tom: Yes, it was really interesting because we held it in different stages. We had consultations with the staff. We had consultations with Cynon Taf tenants, the locals. We held it with young tenants as well, and we held it with community members.
And the key themes that were coming out were all similar across them all, but the key aspect for Cynon Taf tenants was obviously the decarbonisation of this stock, so ensuring that the stock, their homes are warm and affordable first and foremost, so they’re actually living in comfortable, warm and affordable homes in line with Welsh housing quality standards, but actually they are about as close to net zero, as close to carbon neutral as they can be. So that was the key aspect that came out.
Following their historic landslide victory in last month’s general election, Labour’s first few weeks in government has been punctuated with swift decisions and formative early actions.
After a campaign that leant heavily on the word ‘change’, the Prime Minister and his new cabinet seem to be wasting no time in showing that this pledge was meant to be taken literally.
Rachel Reeves, the UK’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, made this particularly clear as she revealed plans for the major reform of the planning system in her first formal address on Monday 8 July.
Promising to ‘fix the foundations of our economy’ and ‘grasp the nettle’ of planning reform, the Chancellor outlined key policies to overhaul UK planning practices, including reconfirming the Government’s commitment to delivering 1.5 million homes and to reinstating mandatory housing targets.
THE CHANCELLOR OUTLINED SEVEN KEY POLICIES
In her speech, the Chancellor spoke at length about the ‘antiquated’ nature of the planning system, and laid out the government’s plans for reform. She said:
Nowhere is decisive reform needed more urgently than in the case of our planning system.
“Today, alongside the Deputy Prime Minister, I am taking immediate action to deliver this government’s mission to kickstart economic growth, and to take the urgent steps necessary to build the infrastructure that we need, including one and a half million homes over the next five years.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer outlines Key Policies for Planning Reform
Reform the National Planning Policy Framework to a growth-focussed approach by the end of July, including restoring housing targets and lifting the ban on new onshore wind in England.
Prioritise energy projects and expand the spatial plan for energy to other infrastructure sectors to expedite progress.
Create a taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites, beginning with Liverpool Central Docks, Worcester Parkway, Northstowe, and Langley Sutton Coldfield.
Provide 300 additional planning officers across the country to support local authorities. 1. 5. 2. 6. 3. 7. 4.
Enable direct ministerial intervention in the planning system, paying particular attention to the economic benefits of developments and the use of Brownfield and grey belt land to meet housing targets and deliver social housing.
Reform the planning system to deliver essential transport and net zero infrastructure.
Outline new policy intentions for critical infrastructure in the coming months, ahead of updating relevant National Policy Statements within the year
HBF HAVE BACKED THE CHANCELLOR’S ‘AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR HOUSING’
The Chancellor’s words last month were met with optimism from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) – the representative body of the home building industry in England and Wales – as they announced their support for her ‘ambitious plans for housing’.
Following the speech, Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive of the Home Builders Federation, said: “The home building industry stands ready to support the Chancellor’s ambitious plans for housing with investment, job creation and the new homes the country needs.
“As she identified, we can only build if we plan effectively and if councils take responsibility for the housing needs of their communities. We also need to address the lack of capacity in local authority planning departments and unblock the 160,000 homes held up by nutrient neutrality.
“We must also consider the current struggles of first-time buyers to take their first steps on the housing ladder. In this environment it is frustrating that, for the first time in decades, there is no active government support for aspiring homeowners.
“Building the homes the country needs will address the social issues our housing crisis is creating, provide young people with access to decent housing, whilst creating tens of thousands of jobs and boosting investment in communities in every area of the country.”
HBF HAVE MADE A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS
HBF has also published a housing blueprint designed to guide the next government as it strives to tackle decreasing housing supply and address the existing barriers to developers delivering muchneeded homes.
Crucial measures it recommends include:
f Calls for a new, targeted first-time buyer scheme, the expansion of green mortgages and the abolishment of stamp duty for the purchase of homes with an A or B EPC.
f Finding a resolution to nutrient neutrality –including calls to bring forward legislation to unblock 160,000 homes currently on hold due to Natural England’s disproportionate mitigation measures.
f Reinstating mandatory housing targets and the Five-Year Housing Land Supply.
f Reform of the Standard Method of Housing Need.
f Ringfencing planning application fees for planning purposes.
f Acceleration of the implementation of National Development Management policies.
f Developing a roadmap for the talent pipeline needed to deliver low-carbon, sustainable housing.
(Source: HBF)
NFB ARE ALSO IN FAVOUR OF THE ANNOUNCED PLANNING REFORM
The National Federation of Builders – who represent builders, contractors, and house builders across England and Wales – have also expressed support for the Chancellor’s policy announcements.
“The NFB has been at the forefront of lobbying for planning reform, so it is exciting to have a government that understands why reforming it will deliver and sustain employment, housing, transport, regional and national strategy, and investor confidence,” said Chief Executive Richard Beresford.
He added: “The announced NPPF review is a necessary first step in implementing Labour’s promise to reintroduce housing targets and ensure the ambition of the ‘grey belt’ is realised. The new Government has already announced the removal of footnotes in the NPPF that hinder onshore wind development.”
Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Policy and Market Insight, also said that the government is correct to review the NPFF, and highlighted how planning reform is integral to unlocking sustained growth in sectors without substantial knock-on investment.
The National Federation of Builders –have also expressed support for the Chancellor’s policy announcements.
He concluded: “With new technologies coming thick and fast and green industries growing exponentially, the UK cannot afford to delay enablement. Labour’s immediate decision to unlock onshore wind projects should give the nation hope that ‘national renewal’ and ‘growth’ are not just slogans.”
Engaging with local authorities and housing associations delivering Scotland’s housing agenda
• Housing to 2040 – setting out the vision for housing
• Affordable home supply, continuing to work closely with partners to deliver affordable homes
• Building vibrant places, helping create places people want to live, work, and bring up families
• Reducing energy consumption in the home
• How innovative thinking and new technologies will shape the future
27 November 2024
Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow