In England, history and thus archaeology has a significant role, as Phelps, A., Ashworth, G, J., & Johansson, B, O, H., explained that the UK has “experienced an increase in the global significance of its language and associated cultural productivity. This has rendered UK heritage accessible to, and important for, a world-wide market, with evident consequences for the quantity of conserved structures and monuments, the nature of the interpretation and size of the visitor market. The UK’s history is thus a world leader in heritage tourism.” (2002 p. 13). Our lecture reflected the importance of our history by highlighting “The desirability of preservation of archaeological remains is a material consideration.” (2009). I had some previous knowledge of the effect of listed sites on development work, due to previous lectures. Such as Planning Law and Practice, Property Development Project Three and Residential Building Conservation. The Unit then continued to provide a more fuller and wider understanding of the subject, enabling an understanding on how the various bits of legislation may go to hold up any development plan.
Sustainable water issues, was something that I had little academic knowledge on before this lecture series. It is evident, from local and national news, that flooding is having a huge effect on homes and developments around the country, to the extent that people are unable to insure their properties.
This lecture series introduced the idea of ‘Flood and Coastal Erosion risk Management’ and the various strategies of mitigation.
Paul More, from Gifford, explained how the increased awareness and perceived risk of flooding, has inturn, spawned a number of policy alterations and other actions.
Flooding does not only extended to the coastal areas, it also encompasses inland. Surface drainage and water runoff are just as much of a problem as anything else. “Even though urban drainage has been practised for more than 5000 years, many challenges arising from growing demands on drainage still remain with respect to runoff quantity and quality; landscape aesthetics, ecology and beneficial uses; and operation of existing urban wastewater systems.”(N.D. P.1) Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 25 directly sets out to minimise risk or mitigate it completely, although DEFRA delegates responsibility of enforcement to the Environment Agency (EA) and Internal Drainage Bored (IDBs). PPS 25 sets out a ‘flow’ of planning objectives see appendix #.
The relevant Authorities obviously want to minimise the amount of developments that are built where they may be susceptible to known flooding. Thus coastal and surface water drainage systems have become a material and relevant part of planning in the form of an EIA.
“For almost all property development proposals, there are highway and transportation issues to address and resolve.” Lecture notes (2009). This area is one that I had little academic knowledge of as it was not directly covered by any of my other units. The lecture established what sustainable transport is:
It continued to give us the means to emphasise why sustainable transport is important:
This area of transport has been addressed in variety of ways, by the government, as can be seen from this statement by the Department of Transport, “Working to deliver a transport system which balances the needs of the economy, the environment and society.” Sociologically government departments have been trying to encourage an increase in pedestrianiseation and cyclists routes. The Depart of Transport have also brought out a Guide on travel Plans. Through taxes there is an economic disincentive to use carbon based transport such as cars. Conversely this could have the undesired effect of prohibiting business growth. The promotion of public transport, can be clearly seen in the Eco-towns Prospectus (2007 p.15) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), as being more sustainable than private transport. The significance of transport as demonstrated merits it to be included in an EIA to further sustainability.
Contamination, in the context of an EIA and ES, was something that I had touched on in previous units. The units that covered this area, at most, only required the identification of any potential contamination from previous uses or from the planned development. With a shortage of space and growing planning constraints on Greenfield sites, Brown field sites are becoming more popular. A number of the Eco-towns developments, were proposed to be built on previously used sites.
Contaminated land as defined by Part 2A of the Envrionmentl protection Agency Act 1990, gave the legal definition, as:
The unit after discussing possible sources of contamination, then went on to discuss specific remediation strategies and there pros and cons.
What did I know?
From previous lecture series’ and other sources such as reading, I gained an understanding of what sustainable development is, in terms of definition, how it must be considered when planning in a broad sense and carrying out a development. To the micro side of sustainable development, such as how to measure, in some form or another, the continuous performance of a single building. The units that have attributed to this more than others are briefly discussed as to identify what they have contributed to my current knowledge.
Principles of Sustainable Development, gave an outline understanding on climate change and various policies and initiatives that were being undertaken by different stakeholders to mitigate it. Residential property development project introduced the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) reporting method in which, social, environmental and economical sustainability, were taken into account. Building Technology Energy Efficiency explored various legislation and directives, such as the Rio conference and Kyoto agreements and described how these had affected national to localised building practice. These sometimes manifesting themselves in building documents and Local Planning Authority (LPA) Acts. Another aspect of the course to create a critical awareness of various methods of measuring ‘sustainability’. Methods such as: superheat, BREAM, HIP
PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 2
DESIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND URBAN REGENERATION
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 3
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CONSERVATION
Minerals and waste
Low Carbon Development
Planning for Sustainable Development in Urban South Hampshire Push
Environmental statements and solutions
Author, Initials. (year). Title. Retrieved month day, year, from Internet address.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. (2008, February, 1). Retrieved February 27, 2009, from
Communities.gov. (2000). Environmental impact assessment: guide to procedures
Chocat, B. Krebs, P. Marsalek, J. Rauch W. & Schilling, W. (N.D.). Urban drainage redefined: from storm water removal to integrated management. Retrieved: 04.25.09 From: http://lequia.udg.es/lequianet/WatSciTech/04305/0061/043050061.pdf
Anderson. K, Bows. A, & Upham. P. (2006) Growth scenarios for EU & UK aviation: contradictions with climate policy. Retrieved: 04.29.09. From: Phttp://www.tyndall.ac.uk/publications/working_papers/wp84.pdf
Appendices