Posted on December 8th, 2011
By Jim Allen | E&M West Ltd | www.eandmwest.co.uk
And yet here we are rushing towards 2012 with alarming rapidity. Remember the disastrous floods that overwhelmed parts of the South West in 2007, and Cumbria in 2009? As I write the rain is lashing the north again, last month it was Mevagissey, bringing back memories of Boscastle, shrinking the distance of time. Flooding is a direct cause of human misery, dislocation on a local and national scale, with a heavy cost directly to individuals, their insurers and the country as a whole.
The Pitt review in 2008 led directly to The Flood and Water Management Act 2010. This seeks to make management of flood risk a pro-active, rather than a reactive mopping up exercise. Local authorities are key to the brave new world it seeks to create, looking up towards the Environment Agency for a strategic framework, and outwards to drainage boards, water companies and the design community to create, implement and manage solutions on the ground. Management of surface water is the issue, and the adoption of sustainable drainage systems the key component.
All well and good, but over 3 years on from Pitt almost none of this is in place, and the current framework for enactment will not complete until the very end of 2014, over 3 years hence. So why the delay?
The Bill will impact on planning processes, with sustainable drainage solutions a requirement for all but the very smallest schemes. This at a time when one of the coalition’s much vaunted strategies for recovery is the abolition of red tape and reform of the planning processes.
Local authorities are the key to successful implementation, and while they have skilled engineers they are too few in number, and not always trained in the design of sustainable drainage schemes. Yet they are charged with establishing Sustainable Drainage Boards to sanction development and management of schemes and other assets post construction. They are not ready.
On the other side of the fence, sustainable drainage schemes, done well, use space that could be used to raise scheme density and payback for developers on their expensively acquired land-banks. Compliance will generate upfront costs and potentially delays. Government is desperately keen to raise new housing starts, and is looking at ways to incentivise rather than discourage development.
Perhaps no surprise then that implementation is so slow, although so far no one seems to be admitting to any dragging of the feet.
The design community must put the counter arguments as strongly as we can. We have a golden opportunity to use good design to improve amenity and biodiversity to the benefit of the wider community. Permeable paving has its place, but it’s not paving paradise. The existing system is broken, and is full of inconsistencies and hard to reconcile interests. Reform is essential if we are to move forward and make the right kind of investment, saving costs to the wider economy in future years.
The politicians would do well to remember the misery flooding creates. It’s twice this year residents in Mevagissey have mopped out their homes; they may not know much about the Water Bill 2010 but they will surely want to know why this is happening again.
Posted on January 31st, 2011
Last night The Green Register celebrated our 10th anniversary in Bristol. Having held two celebratory parties earlier in the year (one in Manchester and one in London) this one was the finale and we celebrated in style. Held at the fantastic Aardman studios (designed by TGR members Alec French architects) our guest speaker was Alastair Sawday, long term environmentalist and mover and shaker in the southwest. Alastair talked about the potential Bristol has and how we should grab this and run with it.
Tony Prescott and Stuart Briggs of Aardman did us proud with hearty wine and gorgeous food. Favourite dish: Cornish Mackerel, beetroot horseradish and Sharpham cheese rarebit with tomato chutney.
Thanks to Leadbitter for sponsoring the food and drinks-we could not have done it without you. The evening was rounded up by David Mellor, Director of Alec French introducing a 40 minute film documenting the extraordinary building of the Aardman studios-a really positive addition to Bristol.
Despite the gloomy outlook within the UK construction industry, TGR is looking forward to the next ten years of sustainable building!
A quote from a happy customer, Elke Dittrich, architect and TGR member:
‘Thank you for the fantastic evening. It was very inspirational with great surroundings and fantastic food. Well done you for your hard work and success with the Green Register. I hope this year will be better. It felt great being together with so many enthusiastic people who genuinely care for Bristol. We need to do more events like that. My dream is to bridge over the port way and make the gorge accessible and a real destination, rather something you peer down from the bridge. The Avon is so underused and unloved.’
Posted on October 14th, 2010
The Steelcase showroom, Manchester – 3 November, 5.30pm-8pm. The Green Register (TGR) is inviting construction industry professionals to a FREE event to mark its 10th year as one of the UK’s leading organisations promoting sustainable building practices and providing unique industry-led training events.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on September 21st, 2010
During this year’s World Green Building Week, The Green Register has announced plans to celebrate its 10th birthday in Manchester, London and Bristol. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on January 21st, 2010
Green shoots: I am delighted (and relieved) to say that The Green Register has had a very positive start to 2010.
Firstly, we are celebrating surviving 2009-a year when many small businesses and organisations like us did not survive the credit crunch. TGR has done so and this is despite numbers at our 2009 events dropping due to tightened budgets. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on November 19th, 2009
Judging by the response and animated discussion that took place in the class immediately following the talk it was clear that the students were very appreciative of what they had heard and had understood the relevance not just in the project they are currently working on but also in their everyday working lives. Mick Jones of Barking College summed it up with “Job well done!”
Posted on November 19th, 2009
Having trained a staggering 3350 delegates, TGR is constantly reviewing and evaluating its training programme to ensure our high standards are maintained. We strive to provide delegates with the latest on cutting-edge sustainable construction technolgies and concepts – with comment on what works and what doesn’t. As such we’re meeting your demand for more courses in our popular Eco-refurbisher course, check out the events page. Remember – it’s become even easier to be a TGR member and if you’ve already completed a one day course why not sign up for another and get the full benefits that our membership offers.
Posted on November 9th, 2009
Many thanks to delegates who took part in the series of CPD sessions I recently completed with RIBA’s North Region. Excellent feedback was received from all delegates, who all contributed to making these session lively and informative. A delegate who took part in the Knutsford presentation said “I was genuinely inspired by Lucy’s presentation“ which is fantastic to hear – see our CPD page for more information on booking training for your requirments.
By Jim Allen | E&M West Ltd | www.eandmwest.co.uk
