Nov 30 2006
A new report comparing sustainable housing in Kent and Nord/Pas de Calais has highlighted that while the UK government is a strong advocate of sustainable housing, it does not necessarily provide the means.
The report, authored by Chris Pickvance, Professor of Urban Studies at the University of Kent, with Guy Chautard of the Association pour la Haute Qualité Environnementale (ASSOHQE) in Paris, is based on a survey of residents, local governments, housing commissioners and pressure groups.
The study found many parallels in the way the UK and French governments act (setting minimum standards, exhortation, offering financial incentives). It also noted that sub-national governments (the Nord/Pas de Calais Region, and a number of district councils in the UK) can take a nationally innovative role, and that the French government encourages government agencies to adopt an ‘exemplary’ role, using sustainable methods in their new buildings. In both countries it found difficulties for households wanting to sell electricity produced by photovoltaic cells.
Other findings are that: private building firms (with exceptions) are reluctant to adopt new methods because of the fear that higher short-term costs will hinder sales, but that they do respond to statutory requirements; even when sustainable features are introduced, publicity about them may be minimal (eg without being aware of it many people work in offices which have features designed to reduce overheating) – on the other hand false expectations can be raised about the benefits of sustainability features.
Among the report’s general recommendations are: the toughening of statutory measures (such as the Building Regulations and the Code of Sustainable Building) rather than more measures of ‘encouragement’; giving councils the power to include sustainability features as planning conditions; the careful use of financial incentives (Spain and Germany offer high buy-back prices to domestic electricity producers, but is the encouragement of such micro-production efficient?); and sustainability training for urban planning and building industry professionals and trades people.
Professor Pickvance says, ‘The present UK situation is that the statutory requirements on the private sector to adopt sustainable building methods in new housing are weaker than those on housing associations. This does not make sense given that 90% of new houses are in the private sector.
‘Only the adoption of ways of thinking that look at costs and benefits in a broad sense and over the life-time of a building, will allow the value of sustainable housing to become appreciated. This requires concerted publicity campaigns by central and local government, builders, housing associations and pressure groups to raise awareness of sustainable housing.’