Government to deliver ‘Awaab’s Law’ as part of damp and mould crackdown
The government will introduce new legislation to crack down on damp and mould which will force landlords to investigate and fix serious problems within strict time limits.
The move comes in the wake of the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak. Senior coroner Joanne Kearsley found that the toddler died as a direct result of prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) property.
A consultation will be launched later this year to set the timeframes within which landlords will have to act to investigate hazards and make repairs. The new rules will form part of the tenancy agreement, so tenants can hold landlords to account by law if they fail to provide a decent home.
READ FULL ARTICLE
|
|
BCO updates advice on creating greener offices
Responding to the accelerating need for the built environment to respond to climate change, the British Council for Offices (BCO) has released an update to its Guide to Specification, which provides expert advice on creating healthier offices that support changing working patterns, whilst reducing carbon emissions.
The BCO Guide to Specification update has been developed in consultation with experts from across the industry, including agents, investors, occupiers, and developers - and includes:
- Adoption of 10m2 space-per-person
- Minimum sustainability target of BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and 5 Star NABERS UK target for new buildings
- Aspirational targets for operational and embodied carbon use to meet Net Zero Carbon goals
- Increased levels of outdoor air supply
- More efficient lighting installations
- Reduced power and cooling loads
- Higher performance facades
- More flexibility in the range of structural spans for office space
READ FULL ARTICLE
|
|
Proposals to dim lights in London in bid to save energy
Skyscrapers in the City of London would be required to dim their lights at night as part of proposals to reduce light pollution and save energy. Under the proposal from the City of London Corporation, property owners across the Square Mile would be asked to switch off unnecessary building lights.
The City proposes the creation of three types of “brightness zone” with curfews set at 10pm for residential and heritage areas, 11pm for cultural and tourist areas and midnight for commercial, retail and transport hubs. The planning document says that developments should ensure all external and internal lighting is automatically turned off when not needed using motion sensors and/or time clocks or other automated control devices. The corporation hopes the proposals will help it reach its target of achieving carbon net zero for the Square Mile by 2040.
READ FULL ARTICLE
|
|
PM2.5 linked to high blood pressure in teenagers
Long term exposure to small particles of particulate matter (PM2.5) is linked to higher blood pressure in teenagers living in London. Researchers from Kings College London examined the effects of air pollution on children attending 51 schools across London and analysed data from 3,284 young people.
The results show that PM2.5, the tiny pollutants that come from car exhaust fumes, tyre and brake dust, and building and industry materials is associated with higher blood pressure across all ages, particularly among girls.
Read about Evotech’s #CleanAirSchools Campaign and how we are helping local schools to monitor and improve indoor air quality in the classroom.
READ FULL ARTICLE
|
|
New London buildings over 30m required to have a second staircase
With immediate effect, all planning applications for residential buildings above 30 metres in London must now include a second staircase before they can be referred to the Greater London Authority for Stage 2 approval.
It follows the government’s recent consultation on amendments to Approved Document B of the Building Regulations. Published on 23 December 2022, the consultation proposes making second staircases in buildings over 30 metres in England a mandatory requirement. Now the mayor has made the government proposal mandatory for all new buildings in London that fit that description.
READ FULL ARTICLE
|
|
