It is believed that around 40 jobs are under threat at Sheffield City Council as part of a restructure of the council’s planning & development department.
The jobs thought to be under threat include access officers, members of the urban design team, conservation officers, landscape architects, as well as others.
At the last full council meeting, Councillor Bob Johnson, cabinet member for development, was asked about the job losses and said he was in dispute about what was going to happen.
He said: “Unfortunately we are still in a collective dispute with the planning service following the restructure so it would be really difficult and probably ill-advised for me to comment publicly until such time as that dispute has been resolved.”
Among the jobs under threat are two part-time access officers. Disability Sheffield has launched a petition to save the roles.
Councillor Douglas Johnson, Green Party leader and City ward representative, said the role of the specialists was vital to making Sheffield an attractive, safe and accessible place for the public and said the proposals could weaken planning regulation.
Commenting on the proposed losses Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director, Planning & Design said,
‘It is important to the smooth delivery of planning permission that the council has enough skilled and competent planning officers and those who support the planning team in specialist roles. Good conservation officers and urban designers can be very effective in helping to deliver development and it is important for us as consultants that we can meet and discuss development proposals with council officers at the pre-app stage as well as during the application process. One of our problems is the lack of specialist staff in most councils which limits pre-application advice which can lead to abortive planning applications and delays in getting planning permission. We do not want this situation to develop in Sheffield so we are concerned that the cuts will lead to the loss of skilled professionals, a reduction in the level of service available to the development industry and delays in the planning process.’
Planning & Design Practice Ltd is a multi-disciplinary team of Town Planners, Architects, Architectural Assistants and Design Professionals. We have extensive knowledge about the policies and procedures of individual councils and the approach taken by planning officers and Councillors.
Please contact Michael Bradford, Associate, if you require assistance with planning applications, appeals or local plan representations or require advice on lawful development certificates or development appraisals, michael.bamford@planningdesign.co.uk or telephone 0114 221 0618.
Friday 8 November marks the 70th anniversary of World Town Planning Day.
World Town Planning Day brings together planners and communities every year on this date to celebrate how we shape our world and make it a place where people want to live, work and play together.
World Town Planning day was launched by Professor Carlos María della Paolera of Buenos Aires in 1949 in order to promote the value of planning all over the world.
In the 70 years since then planners from over 30 countries have celebrated their achievements in helping to create more sustainable communities and places with lectures, children’s competitions, fund raising and charity events, planning awards and street festivals.
This year the President of The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Ian Tant will be dedicating a ‘blue plaque’ in London to Sir Patrick Abercrombie, best known for his post-Second World War replanning of London.
In addition Ian will be joining Presidents and Chairs of other planning associations from across the world to call on planners to continue to champion the causes of equity, diversity and inclusivity in their work.
The RTPI will also be running its Planning Day Schools Competition. This is designed to inspire students to take a closer look at both their local and wider environment and the many decisions that impact it. The competition is open to all UK secondary schools, with winning schools receiving prizes for the individual student and the school. More information can be found HERE.
“Town planning is increasingly important across the world as climate change bites,” says Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director of Planning & Design.
“Putting development in the right place makes urban development more robust in a changing climate and it makes it possible to deliver services on a low carbon model. In many countries there is no effective land use control and the latest wildfires in California are a case in point. Suburban and ex-urban housing has been built to a very low density in forested and scrub areas that are vulnerable to fire. These places are often very difficult to reach and to supply adequate water. They should not be built on and this is in a first world country. In Britain development does not take place in such sensitive locations. These include the uplands, areas liable to regular flooding, and areas of importance to nature conservation. Development densities in the UK are generally high and we take care to consider the impact of development on local communities.
With climate change the provision off public transport must increase, the use of the private car should be reduced and our homes should be built to zero carbon. This means building at greater densities and making the best use of land in our urban areas. It means co-ordinating development with public transport and building in locations of greatest accessibility so that people have a choice of transport options, to do this will give young people and the elderly autonomy in their lives, reduce inequality through better access to work and public services and in doing so create greater well-being for all.“
Comprising town planners, architects and architectural assistants our staff bring a wealth of experience from a range of backgrounds and various parts of the UK. Our planners have worked in the public & private sectors, and have excellent working relations with Local Planning Authorities. In our work we seek to realise the development potential of land and buildings to the benefit of the client and the wider community.
For more information or to discuss a specific project please contact us.
Sheffield city centre could soon be the location of Yorkshire’s tallest building after an ambitious, £100m planning application was submitted by CODE Co-Living.
Plans have been put forward to build a development comprising three buildings, one of 12 storeys, a second of 16 storeys, and the third, the tallest reaching 36 storeys.
At almost 117 metres tall, the main tower would be higher than a 114-metre tall student scheme currently under construction in Leeds – which is currently set to be the county’s tallest – and would be a full 16 metres higher than Sheffield’s current title holder, City Lofts Tower, which stands at 101 metres.
The scheme would be on a prominent site to the side of the Vita building, just off Charter Row and close to The Light Cinema complex. The land was previously occupied by South Yorkshire Housing and a Dexel car repair yard.
CODE says the development would improve the environment of a neglected corner of the city centre and deliver a huge injection of vibrancy and activity to Charter Square, The Moor and Heart of the City II.
The proposed co-living scheme would provide 1,370 private studio apartments for rent, available for both students and non-students.
Communal spaces would also be incorporated, including dining and café facilities, a 50-piece gymnasium, cinema room, private study spaces and a large first floor south-facing outdoor roof terrace. There will also be a 24-hour concierge on site.
CODE has committed to providing 10 per cent of the apartments as affordable housing, with tenants having equal access to all the facilities within the development.
Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director of Planning & Design, who have just opened a new office based at the Workstation in Sheffield said
“We support the construction of new tall buildings in Sheffield as they show the city’s ambition and its drive to support appropriate development. A tall iconic building creates a buzz and it also helps to frame the debate of what is possible. Building in the city centre also put less pressure for edge of city development and protects the green belt.”
It is hoped that the planning application will be decided before Christmas. If approved, CODE hopes to be on site in spring 2020.
Jamie Lewis, of CODE, said: “We have been looking for a site in Sheffield for several years. From the outside, it is clear that the city is going places with Heart of the City II and developments on The Moor transforming the city centre. We want to be a part of this.”
The government has unveiled plans on building safety, the National Infrastructure Strategy and a goal for the UK to lead global action against climate change in the Queen’s Speech of Monday 14 October.
Given the very real issues around climate change and the environment Planning & Design are very pleased to see the following in the Queen’s Speech yesterday.
“My Ministers remain committed to protecting and improving the environment for future generations. For the first time, environmental principles will be enshrined in law. Measures will be introduced to improve air and water quality, tackle plastic pollution and restore habitats so plants and wildlife can thrive. Legislation will also create new legally-binding environmental improvement targets. A new, world-leading independent regulator will be established in statute to scrutinise environmental policy and law, investigate complaints and take enforcement action [Environment Bill].”
This means, that for the first time, environmental principles will be enshrined in law. Measures will be introduced that improve air and water quality, tackle plastic pollution and restore habitats so plants and wildlife can thrive, increasing biodiversity. Legislation will also create new legally-binding environmental improvement targets. A new, independent regulator will be established in statute to scrutinise environmental policy and law, investigate complaints and take enforcement action.
This commitment to the environment is endorsed by the RTPI but they make the point that without well-resourced planning teams it will be difficult to deliver on this pledge.
RTPI Chief Executive Victoria Hills said “The Royal Town Planning Institute welcomes the government’s intentions announced in today’s Queen’s Speech for a white paper on more decision-making powers to be devolved in England, to deliver a national infrastructure strategy, to create a new scrutiny body for environmental ambitions and to lead global climate change action.
“We remind Government that the planning system and planning professionals are essential to make all these intentions a reality, and that local authority planning needs to be resourced appropriately.
“The RTPI, which represents 25,000 planning professionals, looks forward to working with the Government to find the spatial solutions to deliver its ambitions.”
At Planning & Design we have seen a real reduction in the planning service available to us and our clients, but we hope that this will improve as we move forward and embrace the formidable challenges and additional responsibilities ahead of us.
“As architects and planners we are in a good position to use our professional skills and experience to design buildings which can better cope with climate change, which is going to affect everyone, says Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director of Planning & Design.
“This means being aware of the latest research, developments and materials in order to design buildings which are highly insulated to be warm in winter whilst cool in summer, generate energy through solar power, have heating systems which use very little energy and do not use gas, oil or burn coal or wood.”
South Wingfield lies about 2 miles west of Alfreton in Amber Valley. It is a village of over 1500 inhabitants with a good primary school, a doctor’s surgery, shops, and community facilities.
Amber Valley is under great pressure to find housing land to meet its own housing needs and some of Derby’s housing, as part of an agreement with the City of Derby and South Derbyshire Councils. All parts of the Borough have to take some housing and South Wingfield as a sustainable settlement with a school short of pupils, was identified by Amber Valley as having the capacity to take a small number of additional homes.
The site, at the north end of the village was identified by the Council. The land was included in the Draft Local Plan as a housing allocation 2 years ago. The site was subject to two rounds of public consultation and was discussed at the Local Plan Examination hearings in June 2018. At the hearing there were no objections from the Parish Council and no objections from local residents. The site was not considered to be controversial.
However when the outline planning application was submitted for 35 homes there was an immediate outcry, villagers strongly objected and the Parish Council sought to resist the proposals. There were no objections from highways or other statutory consultees and the planning authority duly recommended approval.
The planning committee meeting was highly charged. We spoke in favour of the application and it was approved on the casting vote of the chairman.
In May 2019 however the council decided to ditch its emerging local plan. This changed the planning policy environment and led to the council announcing a 5 year housing land supply and the recall of this application back to planning committee for a further decision. The council was able to do this because the Section 106 Agreement had not been signed by that point and the Decision Notice had not been issued.
The application was again recommended for approval. The planning meeting was again highly charged and following 6 objectors speeches we spoke in favour of the application. The application was approved by a healthy margin.
The Council’s decision making process took 10 months on a 13 week planning application. The Section 106 is due to be signed and the Decision Notice should be issued very soon. It shows that a planning approval is never in the bag until the Decision Notice is issued.
Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director, Planning & Design
With a recent poll showing that climate change has overtaken Brexit as the public’s top concern, and the news that over half of the UK’s principal local authorities have now declared a climate emergency, there is no doubt that there is ever increasing public concern about living with greater sustainability.
“As architects and planners we are in a good position to use our professional skills and experience to design buildings which can better cope with climate change, which is going to affect everyone, says Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director of Planning & Design.
“This means being aware of the latest research, developments and materials in order to design buildings which are highly insulated to be warm in winter whilst cool in summer, generate energy through solar power, have heating systems which use very little energy and do not use gas, oil or burn coal or wood.”
From the earliest discussions with our clients we recognise the importance of outlining the advantages and benefits of building with sustainable aspects incorporated into their projects and ways in which they can reduce the carbon footprint of their project. This is obviously in consideration of their construction budget.
As a practice Planning & Design have been researching and promoting a number of sustainability initiatives, including Passivhaus, Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).
Sustainability and Passivhaus Design
The Passivhaus concept represents state of the art technical solutions for energy efficient buildings. The energy consumption in a building built to Passivhaus standards is reduced with passive measures to such a low level that the building hardly requires any heating, cooling, humidification or dehumidification to meet the predetermined climate and comfort conditions.
The components and principles of a Passivhaus dwelling are as follow:
The dwelling needs just 15kWh of heating energy per square metre net floor surface per year (equivalent of around £50 worth of gas per year)
Super continuous insulation (wall U values 0.15Wm²k)
No thermal bridges (airtight- less than 0.6 air changes/hour at 50pa)
Heat recovery ventilation system
Triple glazed windows argon filled or Krypton gas and insulated frames (0.8Wm²k U-value)
It is worth noting that the criteria is set lower than that for Passivhaus for refurbishment and retrofit in existing buildings.
The Passivhaus Institute have developed a Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) as a design and verification tool for Passivhaus buildings.
Passivhaus certification provides a rigorous quality assurance process verified via independent testing. Certification is available for buildings, specific components, designers, consultants and trades people. Below is a list of the different types of Passivhaus certification options.
Among the many advantages of living in a dwelling designed to Passivhaus are lower energy bills and maintenance costs, cleaner, healthier air quality inside the home, warm snug rooms without any draughts or cold spots in winter and cooler rooms in summer plus zero carbon.
Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) was launched by the government in 2007, replacing EcoHomes as the national standard to be used in the design and construction of new homes in England.
However, after March 2015 CSH was no longer a legal requirement, but now many local authority officers still work to CSH standards.
There are 6 different CSH rating levels from 1-6, with level 6 being the highest. Each represent a decrease in carbon emissions and an increase in sustainability standards across 9 categories, which are:
Energy and CO2 emissions
Water
Materials
Surface water runoff
Waste
Pollution
Health and wellbeing
Management
Ecology
Credits need to be achieved within the 9 different code categories and the number of credits will depend on the level required. Below is a table showing the amount of points required for each level.
Level 4 is a equal to a 19% reduction in carbon footprint, Level 5 a 100% reduction and Level 6 resulting in a zero carbon dwelling.
Assessments are normally carried out in two stages: 1) Design stage, leading to an interim certificate 2) Post construction stage. Leading to a final certificate
Renewable Heat Incentive
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a government financial incentive to promote the use of renewable heat. Switching to heating systems that use eligible energy sources can help the UK reduce its carbon emissions and meet its renewable energy targets. The scheme pays each quarter for every kwh of heat generated and used over the past 3 months, commercial schemes lasting 20 years and domestic 7 years. The scheme applies to solar panels/ground source heat pump/ air source heat pump and biomass boilers. The RHI provides households with financial support between £2,000 and £3,500 a year, which can give a total rebate from £14,000 to £24,000.
The scheme is open to anyone who can meet the joining requirements. It is for households both off and on the gas grid.
To apply you will need:
Your microgeneration certification scheme certificate number (a certificate which shows both products and the installation by companies are installed to a high standard)
Your energy performance certificate EPC number
Bank details
Metering questions, if you need to be metered
Below is a table showing roughly how much payback a Biomass Boiler could get you.
What is SAP 10?
SAP calculations are used to demonstrate the energy performance of dwellings. The new SAP10 is not for use until Part L of the building regulations has been revised. There are some significant changes, but some will have the potential to affect the way we design new buildings.
Here is a summary of the major changes;
Electric heating will be seeing as more favourable compared to other traditional methods.
On site electricity generation will have less impact, currently scores high on the SAP test, however this does not mean that it’s not desired.
Buildings will need to have a lower heat demand, as we spend less hours at home that previously estimated, changing heating patterns and perhaps promoting smart homes, Wi-Fi connectivity to M&E appliances etc.
Improving thermal bridging details, promoting bespoke solutions instead of Accredited Construction Details to encourage developers finding better solutions. This does not mean that ACD will be forgotten.
Water consumption/ flow rates and the number of showers, baths will be now taken into account and also if these are electrics or mains fed will be important.
Overheating risks/ proportion of glazing will become more important to prevent overheating, thermal modelling might be required.
PV storage/ the use of onsite generated electricity used to cover water heating demand instead of feeding the grid now will be an option.
LED/ Compact fluorescent lighting will be necessary.
U values req. being more stringent, making the Passivhaus approach a more attractive guideline perhaps.
Sap 10 will be used:
On new planning strategies.
To asses EPC (Fuel cost)
Dwelling emission rates.
Vital for Part L compliance and section 6 (Openings).
As part of planning submissions for energy and sustainability statements.
Below are some examples of wall construction types and thicknesses which meet the Passivhaus standards or better.
Whilst recognising that ultimately it is up to the client what they want to do and what their budget allows for, we can advise them on the different levels of sustainability, which are:
An upgrade of the energy performance of an existing building with more sustainable systems/ introduction of insulation/ solar panels etc.
The Code for Sustainable Homes, either level 1-6
Passivhaus
We can then provide clients with the latest research and full knowledge that we have on each of these options, the various elements of renewable technologies and how much these cost.
Please feel free to contact us if you require any additional information or to discuss any specific projects.
Planning & Design have made a significant investment to their presence in Sheffield with a move to new premises and several key appointments.
Housed in a former 1930s’ car showroom, Planning & Design now reside in The Workstation, Sheffield’s leading business centre for creative talent and innovation in the heart of the city’s thriving Cultural Industries Quarter.
Located less than five minutes from Sheffield train station, The Workstation is home to some of Sheffield’s most exciting cultural, creative and digital businesses with Planning & Design joining renowned design studios, high growth tech firms, award winning theatre companies and filmmakers.
Proximity to the train station also affords easy access to both the group’s main office located in Derby city centre, and clients nationwide.
Leading the Sheffield office will be Michael Bamford. A chartered town planning consultant, Michael started with Planning & Design in 2015 and carved out his early career with the group. Having left the company in early 2018 to work with a National Consultancy based in Sheffield, he returned to Planning & Design this summer and takes the lead on the operation of our Sheffield Office.
Transferring from the Derby office to join Michael will be Graduate Planner Harry Capstick. Having completed his undergraduate degree in Town Planning and Geography at Sheffield Hallam University, he initially joined the team in June 2017, where he completed a 6-month work placement. Upon finishing his degree, Harry re-joined the team in July 2019.
As well as both Harry and Michael having worked and studied in the city, Planning & Design also has a close connection with Sheffield, having long maintained an office in the city and with numerous clients and projects in the region.
“The Sheffield City Region provides real opportunities for growth and development. The city has close links with the Peak District National Park and a long history of high tech engineering. We are excited to be opening a larger office in the city to meet the demand for town planning and architecture. The Region is forward thinking, it is looking for sustainable growth and is open to meeting the challenges of Climate Change and Brexit.” says Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director of Planning & Design.
Comprising town planners, architects and architectural assistants the staff at Planning & Design bring a wealth of experience from a range of backgrounds and various parts of the UK. Our planners have worked in the public & private sectors, and have excellent working relations with Local Planning Authorities. Our team of RIBA Chartered Architects and Architectural Assistants have a wealth of experience working with homeowners, developers and the public sector.
“We are looking forward to welcoming existing clients to our new home in Sheffield, and to creating new relationships in the city, and across the region, says Michael Bamford.
“Sheffield is home to a rich architectural heritage, with iconic developments such as Park Hill as well as innovative urban renewal, as demonstrated by developments such as can be seen at Kelham Island and at the Workstation. We are looking forward to being a part of Sheffield’s future development.”
Please contact Michael if you require assistance with planning applications, appeals or local plan representations or require advice on lawful development certificates or development appraisals, michael.bamford@planningdesign.co.uk or telephone 0114 221 0618.
Photo (L-R): Harry Capstick, Richard Pigott, Jonathan Jenkin, Michael Bamford, Jon Millhouse.
On Monday 16 September Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director of Planning & Design addressed the 90 plus strong audience at Surveyors RECAP 2019, part of a series of seminars providing an invaluable CPD (Continuing Professional Development) update for rural practitioners and surveyors.
A non-profit making company, the aim of Surveyors RECAP Ltd is to broaden the knowledge of fellow rural professionals. The annual series of evening seminars they organise provide an important opportunity to explore the most pertinent rural topics facing the industry. A series of five consecutive Monday evenings which can be attended individually, or as a series, full attendance can give 15 hours or more CPD / Lifelong Learning as well as providing an excellent networking opportunity.
Hosted at the Roman Way Hotel in Cannock, Staffordshire and now in into its 34th year, this ever popular series updates rural surveyors and practitioners of all experiences, welcoming members of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) as well as farmers, lawyers, accountants, farm secretaries and other rural practitioners.
With vast experience of working on rural projects for homeowners, landowners and farmers in rural areas Planning & Design are perfectly positioned to address the audience. Under a general title of “Recent Changes to Planning Policy Affecting Development in the Rural Environment”, Jonathan updated the audience on changes in Permitted Development including changes of use to Class Q, which allows Change of Use and conversion of agricultural buildings to dwellings and Class R, which allows Change of Use from agriculture to a flexible business use. In addition Jonathan looked at ways of delivering a net gain for biodiversity, and possible changes in legislation due to the escalating climate crisis.
Speaking about his participation in the event Jonathan said:
“As a company we regularly run a series of seminars for architects, surveyors and agents, setting out changes in planning policies and new Government guidance. RECAP is a CPD event for young surveyors and with an audience of almost 100 young professionals it is always an enjoyable event, where I get the chance to run through real life examples, and they get the chance to challenge me.”
More information on Surveyor RECAP’s 2019 event programme can be found HERE
To find out more about how Planning & Design can help you achieve success with your rural development project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
On Tuesday 10 September Planning & Design invited Marketing Derby’s Bondholders, together with specially invited guests to join them at the iconic Derby QUAD. This was for a lively discussion around balancing the needs of preserving Derby’s built heritage, versus the need for innovation in the regeneration of our built environment.
Marketing Derby’s Bondholder community, of which Planning & Design is a member, is a varied and vibrant collection of businesses, working with local stakeholders and the public sector to showcase the city. At regular events, Bondholders get to network, exchange ideas and learn more about the latest developments and investments into Derby and the wider region.
The format of this latest event was to present both sides of the heritage vs development argument, whilst ultimately demonstrating Planning & Design’s belief that heritage should not be seen as a barrier to development, but rather a catalyst; an opportunity rather than a problem.
The morning was introduced by Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director of Planning & Design, who set out the aims and ground rules for the debate:
“Our work brings us in to regular contact with the heritage lobby and we have specialised over the years in heritage and heritage related architectural and planning matters.
“Derby is a historic city with its listed buildings, its conservation areas and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is fortunate to have a rich heritage and this is something to be proud of. But heritage restrictions can in practice impose limitations and our debate is whether these designations and constraints and their implementation are holding the city back. “
“Derby is at the heart of the country’s aerospace, rail and automotive sectors and is home to an expanding network of advanced technology businesses and professional services.” began Richard Pigott, Director at Planning & Design and a chartered town planner who has worked in both the public and private sectors for over 15 years, who then continued:
“Its economic performance is amongst the strongest cities outside the South-East and the city is renowned for its innovation. It has a fine industrial heritage embodied in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site where the essential ingredients of factory production were successfully combined for the first time. In short we are a city of innovation. However many parts of the city centre are in desperate need of investment and redevelopment to create a living city centre, as encapsulated in the City Centre Masterplan 2030.”
Citing examples including the disparity between Friar Gate and Agard Street, plus the site of the former DRI (Derbyshire Royal infirmary) Richard concluded:
“Development can help heritage. Innovation in Derby didn’t stop in the 18th century, nor should it stop today. To compete with other cities we must champion good architecture, and allow well designed modern buildings to sit alongside our fine old buildings.”
Fellow Director at Planning & Design Jon Millhouse, a Chartered Town Planner with a specialist interest in Historic Building Conservation and Urban Design began his counter argument by detailing some of the rich history of Derby:
“With one of the longest histories of any town in the country, Derby has a rich history which manifests itself in our built heritage. This is something we can all be proud of.
“As befits our identity as a City of Innovation, we can lay claim to the site of the World’s first factory, Britain’s first public park, and the World’s oldest department store.
“Protecting, reusing and revealing our heritage should be at the forefront of this city’s development aspirations, and can help deliver our future prosperity.”
Following the two viewpoints set out by the Directors of Planning & Design, Tony Butler, Executive Director of Derby Museums was just one of many audience members to contribute to the subsequent debate:
“Heritage buildings and UNESCO world heritage status are significant contributors to making Derby a great place to live, work and invest. These assets should be enhanced.
“However the City Council capacity within its conservation team is so limited that this slows down discussions regarding development. More resource is needed. The best of heritage and good new design can sit well together and enhance each other. Ultimately there needs to me more dialogue, both between people and with design.”
Summarising both the presentations and the following debate, Jonathan Jenkin concluded:
“The government has through the National Planning Policy Framework raised the status of heritage in the planning decision process. While at the same time and for the past 10 years local authorities have been starved of cash and resources. This has affected investment in policy making and the development of a sound information base to make good planning judgements.
“To help the development industry local planning authorities need clear policies, which arise from a well-informed debate based on sound information. Each local planning authority should have well qualified proactive conservation officers who work with developers, their agents and applicants, to help to bring development forward while protecting and conserving the historic environment. At the same time, developers need to respect the legacy of old buildings and seek to recognise the role of a site in the historic and cultural history of the city or a town. This will help to inform development and it will lead to better designs and more successful schemes.”
The presentation from the event is available for download at the following link:
At the Town Council meeting in June Matlock Town Council declared a climate and ecological emergency. There was unanimous support for the motion proposed by Councillor Matt Buckler. The motion is seeking to put in place local actions that can make a difference.
Cllr Buckler said,
“We’ve heard some fantastic examples of things that people have done, but we need everyone to be doing it. To help this we need all of our tiers of government to take action where they can and help those within our communities to do the same. We will work with the District and County Councils, and learn from other good examples from around the country to ensure Matlock is an environmental beacon, as we work towards being a zero carbon town by 2030.”
Are you concerned about Climate Change? Do you want to find out more about what is being done locally? Have you got ideas to share or questions to ask?
On Saturday 14th September the Council are holding a special event, an opportunity to understand the environmental challenges ahead, what you can do to help resolve them day to day and share ideas on the most pressing and important issue of our time.
Get tickets on the door or book via Eventbrite or Facebook
Jonathan Jenkin, Managing Director at Planning & Design who are exhibiting at the event
“Climate change is going to affect everyone and as architects and planners we are in a good position to use our professional skills and experience to design buildings in locations which will be more robust in facing the challenges of climate change. This means building in locations where there is good public transport where workers or residents can walk to services and facilities without using a car, in buildings which can better cope with climate change because they are highly insulated and are warm in winter and cool in summer, generate energy through solar power, having heating systems which do not use gas, oil or burn coal or wood and use very little energy. It is also important that the building of the future looks good and stay looking good with the minimum of maintenance. Future buildings also will have high levels of natural daylight and can enhance biodiversity by accommodating protected species within the building fabric and providing opportunities for a wide variety of plants and animals to thrive”.
