Developer strategies for sustainable development in the UK : redevelopment versus refurbishment and the sustainable communities plan
Waters, Mike, Francis Plimmer & Sarah Kenney
The UK development industry has remained positive in its attitude towards sustainability with, for instance, housebuilding on brownfield land no longer the preserve of specialists. According to previous research undertaken at The College of Estate Management in 2005, developers are also more willing to employ new techniques. Greater use is being made of modern methods of construction, such as structural insulated panels and timber framing alongside the implementation of environmental quality standards, namely EcoHomes, Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) Ratings and the UK Sustainable Building Codes. However, construction firms generate more than 70 million tonnes of waste each year and up to 80% of this waste could be reusable. This represents a massive opportunity for the industry to develop new strategies for sustainability. Whilst the concept of sustainable construction and sustainable development is widely acknowledged and accepted in UK public policy, the fundamental challenge is establishing a reasonable and reliable measure of these objectives in order to support decision-making strategies for developers. Furthermore, without a quantitative framework, progress with sustainable construction is likely to be jeopardised. The establishment of a suitable set of indicators should allow policy makers and practitioners to understand better the balance that has to be achieved between social, economic and environmental benefit.
Event: XXX FIG Working Week and General Assembly : Strategic Integration of Surveying Services
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