BREEAM and local planning

Ensuring the sustainable planning, design and construction of the built environment is an essential part of achieving sustainable development.

BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes can help local planning authorities deliver better, more sustainable places to the communities they serve. From initial masterplanning, through domestic and non-domestic new construction, to refurbishment, they offer a credible, trusted assessment of sustainable design.

“People know and trust the BREEAM standard – if you get a BREEAM ‘Excellent’, for example, there is no doubt or argument about what you have achieved.” Stuart Rimmer, Peel Group

Good Practice Guidance: Sustainable Design and Construction

A cross-sector group of organisations concerned with planning and the built environment has published good practice guidance on sustainable design and construction, to support the National Planning Policy Framework’s aim to contribute to achieving sustainable development. Sustainable buildings are essential to this aim. Download a copy of the guidance document here (PDF).

Planning policy

Local planning authorities (LPAs) can include appropriate sustainable construction policies in their local plans to provide more certainty for both planners and developers. We provide information and resources to support this, including recent examples of adopted local planning policy where this has already been successfully achieved. Learn more about incorporating BREEAM and Code in local planning policy.

Development management

When determining planning applications it is important that appropriate conditions are used. We have produced information on writing BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes into planning conditions which includes various example conditions and describes the different approaches. We also highlight the outcomes from a few occasions where appeals have been made against relevant planning conditions. Learn more about implementing BREEAM and Code as part of development management.

News

BREEAM Communities schemes certified

The Sheffield Housing Company in partnership with John Thompson & Partners have achieved a ‘Very good’ BREEAM Communities certification across 3 sites in the Sheffield area. The sites received planning permission in May 2012 and the first phase will see a total of 305 new homes. Please check their website for further detail.

New Event: University of Reading and BRE Global collaborate to discuss sustainable building in practice

The event will consider the impact of BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes on sustainability, at scales from individual buildings to whole communities.  Contributions from assessors, planners, developers and academics will present new research findings and explore case studies, while Steve Quartermain, the Government’s chief planner, will give an update on the Government’s approach to achieving sustainable development through the planning system. The event will be held on Wednesday 17 July at the University of Reading.  Further details will be available shortly.