Resources

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To promote the sustainable use of resources, including the reduction and re-use of wastes, related to both the construction and operation of new developments.

Read the background on Resources

Ref: 56

Question 6.1

Objective

To ensure that heritage or archaeologically important features are conserved or preserved if present.

Importance: Importance

Question

What will happen to heritage/archaeologically important features and their settings which could be affected by the development?

Targets and Justification

Best
Both protected and enhanced either physically or through public access/interpretation
Good
Important features are protected
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 56
Ref: 57

Question 6.2

Objective

To increase the volume of low environmental impact materials used during the construction of developments.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

What proportion (by mass) of building materials used in the construction of the public realm and infrastructure will be specified as low environmental impact?

Targets and Justification

Best
>80% green guide A rated (or equivalent)
Good
60-80% Green Guide A rated (or equivalent)
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 57
Ref: 58

Question 6.3

Objective

To increase the percentage of timber used in construction sourced from sustainably managed and temperate sources. Recognised accreditations include the Forest Stewardship Council Certification Scheme and Pan European Forest Certification.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

What proportion of timber used in the construction of the public realm and infrastructure will be from an independently verified sustainable source?

Targets and Justification

Best
100% from FSC/PEFC source
Good
75% from FSC/PEFC source and balance from temperate sources
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 58
Ref: 59

Question 6.4

Objective

To increase the proportion of locally reclaimed or recycled materials used in the construction of roads, pavement, public spaces and carparks.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

How much local reclaimed or recycled materials will be used for road construction?

See Highways for table showing Permitted uses of secondary aggregates in the Specification for Highway Works.

Targets and Justification

Best
>30%
Good
25-30%
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 59
Ref: 60

Question 6.5

Objective

To increase the proportion of locally sourced materials used in the construction process.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Does the developer have a strategy to use locally sourced materials in the development (we would generally expect this to be within 35 – 50 miles of the site)?

Targets and Justification

Best
Not yet established
Good
Strategy in place for a number of material or component streams
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 60
Ref: 61

Question 6.6

Objective

To increase the proportion of low environmental impact materials used in water supply and sewerage piping system construction.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Does the developer have a strategy to use low environmental impact and/or recycled materials in the water and sewerage systems infrastructure?

See Waste & Resources Action Programme

Targets and Justification

Best
Yes for more than one component
Good
Yes for one component
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 61
Ref: 62

Question 6.7

Objective

To develop a sustainable water efficiency strategy at a masterplanning level for the whole site.

Importance: Importance

Question

How will the development meet the required water demands placed upon the site?

Targets and Justification

Best
Good Practice plus greywater recycling
Good
Water demand minimised and rainwater harvested for re-use on the site
Minimum
Sufficient capacity in existing supply

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 62
Ref: 63

Question 6.8

Objective

To ensure that any development on site does not adversely impact upon local public or private water supply through polluting acquifers or groundwater.

Importance: Importance

Question

If there are any public or private surface or groundwater abstractions on or close to the site (within 2 km), are pollution prevention measures being installed to ensure that water quality is not adversely affected during and after development.

Targets and Justification

Best
Water interception and cleaning facilities in place during construction and in water run-off management system to ensure that clean water is returned to ground
Good
General water pollution prevention measures are in place to avoid any adverse affects to local abstractions both during the construction phase and occupancy
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 63
Ref: 64

Question 6.9

Objective

To promote increased levels of kitchen and garden / landscaping composting.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

What facilities will be provided to encourage building occupiers to compost kitchen and garden waste?

Targets and Justification

Best
Not yet established
Good
On site communal composting facilities from which residents and occupiers can purchase compost for their own use
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 64
Ref: 65

Question 6.10

Objective

To reduce the impact of noise upon the development.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will the site be designed to minimise the impact of noise from external sources?

Targets and Justification

Best
As Good Practice with advice from an acoustic engineer
Good
Key sources identified and design plan drawn up to mitigate against noise sources
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 65
Ref: 66

Question 6.11

Objective

To minimise the waste produced from the development going to landfill.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will a waste management/minimisation scheme be implemented by the developer when undertaking construction of the development?

Targets and Justification

Best
Waste management/minimisation scheme implemented throughout development with full waste segregation and the use of a waste contractor with dedicated recycling, reclamation and composting facilities
Good
Waste management/minimisation scheme implemented throughout development with some waste stream segregation
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 66

Development sizes

The checklist has been split into three different versions for different sizes of development:

Small
Up to 10 dwellings
Medium
11 - 999 dwellings
Up to 999 dwellings (mixed use)
Large
1,000 - 5,999 dwellings
1,000 - 5,999 dwellings (mixed)

If the development is for more than 6,000 houses, we recommend a bespoke checklist should be produced by the developer and local authority.

The set of questions for smaller developments is contained within the set of questions for larger developments.