In accordance with the government\u2019s target of not minimising new policy, some previous schemes and accreditations have been incorporated in the latest amendments, revisions and additions to the building regulations.<\/p>\n
Back in 2014 the government finally announced that the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) and other similar schemes and processes could no longer be added to Planning Consents. In the past Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) were able to add these certificated measures as a way of increasing the sustainability of projects and were used in part as the road map for achieving Carbon Zero.<\/p>\n
The Code for Sustainable Homes was launched in 2006 and apart from some LPA\u2019s and social housing projects the uptake for open market dwellings was low.<\/p>\n
The Code for Sustainable Homes covered items including, improving energy efficiency, reduction and reuse of water in dwellings, good specification of Materials, reducing Pollution through manufactures and reducing waste from projects, along with increased drainage requirements, social benefits of improved sound insulation, increased security, disabled access & adaption options and ecological improvements.<\/p>\n
LPA\u2019s can now (where local assed need can be shown) to add conditions to increase the minimum standards of the building regulations.\u00a0 The Approved Documents (most commonly referred to as \u2018The Regs\u2019) for water and disabled access have been amended to reflect this.<\/p>\n
The latest changes came into effect in the autumn with the industry only beginning to start to notice the new changes.<\/p>\n
Part G <\/strong>Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency now has a minimum and additional standard added.<\/p>\n Part M (Access to and Use of Buildings) <\/strong>has been overhauled and has been spilt into two parts one for Domestic Projects the other for Non-Domestic.<\/p>\n The domestic section now has three Types of \u2018Categories\u2019, taking on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation\u2019s \u2018Lifetime Homes\u2019 concept.<\/p>\n Category 1 is classed as a Visitable Dwelling and contains little changes to the previous basic requirements.<\/p>\n Category 2 is Accessible and Adapted, taking on measures to allow simple adaption for use of dwelling by disabled people.<\/p>\n Category 3 is Wheelchair Accessible for full independent use of Wheelchair users.<\/p>\n