Raising standards to protect homeowners
Why you need sustainability assessments
The Code for Sustainable Homes has replaced EcoHomes in England from April 2007 and introduces minimum standards for energy and water efficiency at every level of the new national standard. The Code measures the sustainability of a home against key design categories, rating the 'whole home' as a complete package. The minimum standards for Code compliance have been set above the requirements of Building Regulations. New homes can achieve a rating on a scale of one to six 'Code Levels' depending on the standard achieved. The Code builds on the EcoHomes system, and apart from the above design categories, it also includes new areas of sustainability design, such as Lifetime Homes and the inclusion of composting facilities.
- Many English local authorities are now making planning conditions that require a certain Code level, typically, level 3 or 4.
- In England and Wales, schemes developed on English Partnerships must reach at least Code level 3, whilst companies using Housing Corpooration funding must also reach at least Code level 3.
- The Merton rule is being adopted in many local English authorities, whereby a minimum level of energy must come from on-site renewables as evidenced by the Code assessment.
- Social housing in Northern Ireland requires a minimum of Code level 3 to be achieved, since April 2008.
These obligations will typically set both the assessment method and minimum required rating level to be achieved. They may also define the stage at which an assessment must be undertaken.
The key design categories included within the Code are:
- Energy
- Water
- Materials
- Surface water run-off
- Waste
- Pollution
- Health and well-being
- Management
- Ecology
Park Dale confirmation of final certification - 91 units to Code level 6
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