gcp Consulting

news > Site Waste Management Plans now live in England for large projects
news > Energy Performance Certificates - the essential timeline
news > Housing Corporation adopts Building for Life
news > Welsh Assembly Government sets target for Code

Site Waste Management Plans now live in England for larger projects

This continuously updated document is designed to keep a record of types and quantities of waste removed from site and act as a feedback mechanism to designers to develop more material efficient design options. Content of the plan depends on the value of the project, currently set at a threshold of £300,000.

SWMPs are a mandatory element of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Focusing largely on on-site operations, the ultimate aim of a SWMP is to reduce the level of construction waste going to landfill. Alongside Code for Sustainable Homes knowledge, gcp Consulting have researched the requirements and can provide tailored SWMP for organisations on specific projects and guide clients through the management process. See www.gcpconsulting.co.uk or contact Nicola Thorogood, Sustainability Projects Coordinator, on 0117 932 8888.

Energy Performance Certificates - the essential timeline

From 6 April 2008 all new dwellings require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
Predicted Energy Assessments at design stage and Energy Performance Certificates at completion can be provided by gcp Consulting in our capacity as accredited Energy Assessors for newly constructed dwellings. The timeline for EPC implementation is:

• ·6 April 2008 - all new dwellings - EPCs required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings, other than dwellings, with a floor area over 10,000sq m ·
• 1 July 2008 - EPCs required for the construction, sale or rent of buildings, other than dwellings, with a floor area over 10,000sq m ·
• 1 October 2008 - EPCs required on sale or rent of all remaining housing stock
• 1 October 2008 - EPCs required on construction, sale or rent of all remaining non-residential buildings. Display certificates required for all public buildings over 1,000sqm.

As part of a package of design stage and as-built SAP assessment and design advice, gcp are producing certificates for a number of developers and contractors.
For more information, contact Michael Hanson at gcp Consulting on 0117 932 8888.

Housing Corporation adopts Building for Life

In April, the Housing Corporation included Building for Life standards in its updated HQI assessment requirements. Developed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), Building for Life measures a development against 20 questions covering urban and architectural design quality. Most HC funded schemes will be expected to achieve at least 12 out of 20 criteria.
To aid understanding of the assessment process gcp Consulting facilitated a CABE training workshop for key clients in Bristol.
gcp Consulting are carrying out initial Building for Life assessments as part of their HQI service and will be fully accredited assessors in the near future.

Welsh Assembly Government announces requirement for Code

Brian Gould of the Welsh Assembly Government revealed at a joint Leadbitter Construction and gcp Consulting seminar in Cardiff in May that Assembly funded schemes will be required to achieve level 3, with a desire to reach Code 4 and 5 in a relatively short timescale.
To understand the full implications of Code compliance, gcp recommends that Associations and developing contractors carry out a pre-assessment exercise. gcp have developed a bespoke pre-assessment process and offer this to their clients with a structured assessment meting to the design team to get all up to speed on the requirements.
See gcp's assessment services on http://www.gcpconsulting.co.uk/conssustain.htm.