Apr 10 2008
A new methodology, GreenPrint, has been developed by BRE to help design teams achieve the strong sustainability credentials now expected of urban developments.
GreenPrint can be applied to development types ranging from urban extensions to business parks. ‘It helps the team, from the very beginning of the development process, to navigate the complex and often conflicting sustainability issues involved,' says Lynne Ceeney, BRE's Sustainable Communities Team Leader, ‘and to draw up masterplans that maximise the benefits of a sustainable approach and the potential for sustainable communities.
The GreenPrint methodology also provides an independent assessment of the final masterplan, and awards a score and rating that can be used to authoritatively demonstrate a development's sustainability credentials.
GreenPrint has already been successfully applied in a number of locations including Sherford - an urban extension on the outskirts of Plymouth, a former car factory site in Luton and a business park in Ireland.
James Koe of Red Tree LLP, who is leading the development at Sherford had this to say: "As there is such a complex and sometimes contradictory set of equations that inform the sustainable profile of a place, to have a rigorous and clearly structured matrix that evaluates the implied outcome is vital. The GreenPrint process provides this tool, but goes further in that it properly weights the varying approaches from the most strategic to the most detailed. The GreenPrint process has helped steer the development of strategy at Sherford, has acted as a great benchmarking tool and thereby enhanced comparative evaluation. We would recommend that all developers submit themselves to the process as an innately good disciple to inform good design and planning."
The first step is to assess the development site's strengths and weaknesses through a site visit. Following this a series of facilitated stakeholder workshops are held to debate and agree the overall objectives for the development, and the benchmarks of success. This ultimately leads to a target GreenPrint rating, which informs the direction of the final masterplan, thus maximising its sustainability potential.
‘GreenPrint steers the overall direction of the masterplan and ensures that important sustainability issues are not forgotten, says Lynne Ceeney. ‘Taking account of local concerns, policies and targets, it prioritises the issues that are most important and able to be influenced by the team. With resources always being limited, you need to prioritise sustainability efforts to maximise the positive impacts. GreenPrint then sets out clear and understandable objectives and benchmarks - both quantitative and qualitative.'
Quantitative benchmarks include such measures as the percentage of reclaimed materials used on the development, or the density of an urban centre. Qualitative benchmarks could include successfully creating a sense of place by applying urban design principles such as the use of landmarks, for example corner buildings and building lines, to help people orientate themselves.
The GreenPrint approach complements the Government's new Performance Planning Agreements (PPA) and can help to deliver many PPA requirements.
It also complements BREEAM, the Code for Sustainable Homes, and other recognised tools and standards such as Secured by Design and Lifetime homes.