Recent News

RSS Inquiry

The DCLG Committee has announced that it will undertake an Inquiry into the revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS). The Inquiry Committee will be accepting evidence from interested parties to identify the perceived implications of this revocation, focussing particularly on the abolition of regional housing targets.

This comes in the wake of the report, commissioned by the National Housing Federation (NHF), which reported that almost 85,000 planned homes have been scrapped by Councils in the wake of the Government's removal of the RSS. The DCLG Inquiry will consider the following topics:

• Impact of abolishing of regional house building targets;
• Adequacy and appropriateness of Government's incentive plan;
• Issues formerly covered by RSS such as renewable energy; and
• Adequacy of proposals that Local Enterprise Partnerships may fulfil a planning function.

The Committee is inviting written submissions until Wednesday 15th September 2010. If you would like further information on what the consequences of this announcement has for your business, or would like NJL Consulting to submit written submissions on your behalf, please contact Nick Lee on 0845 362 8202 or info@njlconsulting.co.uk 

New Submission - Environmental Statement Challenge Met

Bellway Homes instructed NJL Consulting to compile an Environmental Statement for the EIA of a Housing Market Renewal site in Derker, Oldham to accompany their planning submission.  Technical assessment work had already informed the masterplan and design work. 

With a tight timescale of just over 4 weeks for turn around, we prepared and completed the Environmental Statement on time and to budget. 

Simon Artiss, Planning Manager at Bellway Homes said 'NJL's positive response to the very tight deadline, along with their support post-submission, have greatly assisted in the delivery of this development'.

The application represents a further piece in the jigsaw for the Oldham Pathfinder area.  It will deliver 148 modern, sustainable homes with significant community benefits. 

Carbon Compliance for Tomorrow's New Homes

This latest study from the Zero Carbon Hub presents the findings from a six-month review of existing compliance modelling tools and their suitability for the future. The aim is to identify appropriate compliance tool, standard assumptions and related regulations to facilitate delivery of the ‘zero carbon home' from 2016.

There are numerous recommendations within the report which will ensure that dwellings' operational performance will better reflect their design objectives.  Key updates within the Carbon Compliance report include:-

• Retention of SAP as the domestic compliance tool,
• Application of an ‘absolute carbon limit' (kgCO2/m²/yr)
• Requirement for cooling loads to be included with the carbon emission assessment.

The report also proposes a shift away from the use of fuel factors which currently distort the carbon compliance calculation (for electrical heating) and advocates new ‘Performance assurance schemes' and that accreditation under such schemes should be rewarded, to improve confidence of delivery of low carbon dwellings in practice as well as design.

The recommendations will come into play for the 2013 Building Regulations update and will not impact the 2010 Regulations update.

For more information please contact Laurie Wills from NJL Consulting on 0845 362 8206, email laurie@njlconsulting.co.uk.

Building Regulations Update Secure

Planned updates to the Building Regulations are on track to come into force in October, despite recent press coverage stating potential delay until April 2010.

The delay was mooted on the grounds that CLG has previously promised a six month lead in period from finalisation of compliance software to Regulatory update and the remaining timeframe for delivery did not allow housebuilders sufficient time to adapt to the proposed changes. However, a spokesperson for the Communities and Local Government today dismissed such claims as ‘wishful thinking by certain elements of the industry'. 

The CLGs position is that Building Regulations update of Part L, Conservation of fuel & power (as well as Part F and J) have secured passage through Parliament. Now approved by the Reducing Regulation Committee they are scheduled to become law on 1^st October 2010.

For more information please contact Laurie Wills from NJL Consulting on 0845 362 8206, email laurie@njlconsulting.co.uk.

FREE Part L (2010) SAP Calculations

Significant amendments to Building Regulations, Part L are planned for October this year. The key update is a requirement for a 25% reduction in dwelling emission rates (DER) against current standards.  In support of these changes, SAP will also be updated to provide a more accurate and flexible calculation methodology.

NJL has a preview edition of the NHER SAP 2009 Plan Assessor software (based upon their government approved SAP software) which allows assessment of dwellings against the forthcoming set of regulations, using the new calculation methodology.  This software, notwithstanding any further updates to SAP by CLG, will provide reliable and accurate assessment of new dwellings to determine compliance with the Part L (2010), Building Regulations.

In advance of the formal release of SAP 2009 and the update in Building Regulations, our Accredited Energy Assessor would be pleased to provide an initial appraisal of a dwelling type FREE OF CHARGE to assist you and your design team in preparing for the Regulatory changes.

Please contact Laurie Wills - 0845 362 8206 laurie@njlconsulting.co.uk - to discuss your requirements.

Sustainable Success for NJL

As previously reported, 2010 marks a step change in legislative requirements in relation to energy, water and holistic environmental appraisal, with planned updates to a number of the UK's Building Regulations and BREEAM and Code for Sustainable Homes assessment methods.   Increasingly, sustainability is regarded as a ‘must have' for many clients and occupiers, particularly developers, purchasers and occupiers considering the longer term performance of the building. Added to this is more rigorous grant funding criteria, anticipated from the HCA in 2011.

The need to respond to changing requirements is reflected in the projects NJL are currently advising on.  Our Sustainability Team is providing consultancy to a range of clients and projects. Examples are outlined below:

Retail Development, Rochdale (35,000sq. ft.)

• BREEAM Retail (Very Good)
• Renewable Energy Statement
• Sustainability Statement

Retail & Office Development, Manchester (30,000sq. ft.)

• BREEAM Retail (Very Good)
• BREEAM Offices (Very Good)
• Sustainability Statement

Care Home  Development, Milton Keynes (85 bed, plus specialist care facilities)

• BREEAM Multi residential (Excellent)
• Sustainability Statements

Social Housing Development, Bacup (14 dwellings)

• Code for Sustainable Homes (Level 3)
• Renewable Energy Statement
• SAP calculations

Housing Development, Manchester (111 dwellings)

• Code Consultancy

Social Housing Development, Bacup (21 dwellings)

• Code for Sustainable Homes (Level 3)

Housing Development, Essex (600+ dwellings)

• Renewable Energy Statement
• Sustainability Statement (incl. SAP calculations)

Housing Development, Buckingham (200 dwellings - social and private)

• Renewable Energy design integration
• Renewable Energy Statement (incl. CHP load analysis)
• Sustainability Statement (incl. SAP calculations)

Housing Development, Preston (14 dwellings)

• Code for Sustainable Homes (Level 3 & 4)
• Renewable Energy Statement
• Sustainability Statement
• SAP calculations

These projects demonstrate the continued growth in this sector of the industry and our ability to successfully deliver these services, providing a commercially minded approach to sustainable development.

New Permission - Dresden, Stoke on Trent

NJL Consulting recently secured outline planning permission for the erection of 24 residential units at the site of the Former Florence Primary School, Dresden, Stoke on Trent.  The site is owned by our clients D&G Developments.

The site had a previous planning consent for the conversion of the existing school for apartments, but given the economic climate a new build scheme was required to ensure a deliverable and viable housing development could be achieved.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Advice and Management

EIA is is critical aspect of planning process and in the midst of all the planning shake-up and uncertainity, there continues to be successful challenges of decisions based on EIA.  With greater scrutiny of all planning applications, the need to ensure compliance with the EIA Regulations should not be over looked. 

As part of NJL's comprehensive service on all aspects of planning, sustainability and development, we are able to offer specialist advice in relation to EIA. 

In 2010, we have already completed five EIA Screening Requests, two EIA Scoping exercises and are currently project managing the EIA process for a number of development sites comprising approximately 400 hectares of land with over 6,000 new homes and close to 300,000 sq m of commercial floor space. 

Our EIA projects include major urban extensions, town centre regeneration schemes, housing market renewal projects, wind farm applications and renewal of minerals permissions.  We successfully manage and coordinate EIA teams and produce Environmental Statements and Non Technical Summaries. 

If you have any queries in relation to EIA compliance, please do not hesitate to contact NJL Consulting for new or existing projects. 

New Instruction - Bellway Homes - Derker, Oldham

Bellway Homes have instructed NJL Consulting to manage the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for their Housing Market Renewal Site in Derker, Oldham.  The scheme will involve demolition of existing properties and construction of 148 modern, sustainable homes in this residential area of Oldham.

NJL has previously acted for Bellway Homes on another Housing Market Renewal site in Picton, Liverpool managing the EIA and providing planning advice.  This project is currently on site and under construction. 

Sustainability Drive

Following the recent appointment of Laurie Wills as Senior Sustainability Consultant, NJL have been instructed on a number of sustainability projects including renewable and low carbon feasibility studies, Code for Sustainable Homes, BREEAM assessments, and Sustainability and Energy Statements.

Increasingly, sustainability performance is synonymous with regulatory compliance in the construction industry as legislation continues to drive the environmental credentials of new buildings.  2010 is a key year in this process with updates to Part L (conservation of fuel & power), Part F (ventilation), Part G (water efficiency) of the Building Regulations and associated amendments to SAP, SBEM and the Code for Sustainable Homes. In order to ensure workable, viable consents and ultimately provide a well integrated solution for the occupier, we advise our clients to incorporate sustainability requirements at the earliest stages of concept design.

NJL Sustainability Services include:-

• Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Appraisal
• Code for Sustainable Homes, EcoHomes and BREEAM assessment
• Building Energy Modelling (SAP / SBEM / DSM)
• Air Pressure Test
• Sustainability Statements
• Environmental Impact Assessments

Reflecting this step change in the industry, NJL are currently providing sustainability consultancy services on 10,000m² commercial space and over 800 residential units.

NJL Success in Tough Times

NJL have recently reached their financial year end and can report that turnover has still increased despite a difficult and competitive environment. During the last year we have also invested in more staff, restructured systems and changed staff rewards. We have continued to invest time in graduate recruitment, specialist areas of expertise and working closely with clients on long term property solutions through planning. This is a key transition phase for the longer term benefit of the company which has been invested in whilst others may struggle to do so. This underlines the belief by the management team in investing for the long term rather than for short term interest. We expect the next year to bring an increase in business with projects in the pipeline rising significantly over the last few months.

New Permission - Stalled Scheme Gets the Green Light

A stalled gateway development in Manchester has recently been granted planning permission for an amended proposal that will help kick start construction on site.  NJL Consulting working in close consultation with the City Council secured planning permission for the revised scheme within 6 weeks from the submission of the planning application.

The development was granted planning permission in 2003 for a residential scheme with a landmark tower fronting the inner ring road to the city centre.  Construction of the scheme stopped in 2008 as a result of the downturn in the economy and the housing market crash. 

The reconfigured layout will provide a wider range of housing choice and allows backing from the Homes and Communities Kickstart programme to be secured.  The revised scheme comprises a total of 166 residential units, in three buildings including a 13 storey tower, and 7 commercial units at ground floor.  

Chris Jones, Partner at NJL said, "Through close working with the City Council we were able to deliver planning permission for the revised scheme quickly and efficiently, ensuring that the planning consent is aligned to the HCA funding requirements and will allow construction on this important gateway site to commence as soon as possible."

New Permission - Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria

Greenfield housing site gets Government Office go-ahead

NJL Consulting are finalising the sale of an unallocated greenfield former playing field on behalf of their private client. The site will now be taken forward by Russell Armer Homes following the grant of full planning permission for 34 residential unit scheme in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria. 

This was confirmed on Monday 12th April following the Government Office North West's decision not to call the application in despite Sports England's objections to the proposals.

New Submission - Castle Marina Retail Park, Nottingham

NJL Consulting has recently submitted a planning application on behalf of our clients RREEF (UK) Ltd for the reconfiguration and refurbishments of Units 1 - 5a at Castle Marina Retail Park, Nottingham.  The reconfiguration of these units will result in a total of 62,940 sqft being provided across three retail units.

Castle Marina Retail Park is an established retail destination within Nottingham.  The application seeks to transform the existing retail offer, which will facilitate the relocation of existing tenants along with the introduction of new tenants at the park.

New Permission - Port Warrington

Go ahead for multi-modal port facility in the Green Belt. 

Port Warrington, been approved by Warrington Borough Council following a decision by the Government Office North West not to call-in the application.  NJL Consulting has worked closely with Peel Ports throughout the application to ensure the key benefits of this scheme were understood by the planning authority and stakeholders.

The site benefits from an existing berth facility with access to the national rail network and will deliver a multi-modal port facility for Warrington and the surrounding area.  It forms part of Peel's Atlantic Gateway vision and will offer a real choice for companies looking to reduce the volumes of freight transported by road and to reduce carbon emissions by utilising the Ship Canal and Shuttle Barge Service or the West Coast Main Line.