[Committee] Representation received. ID:921

[Cambridge City Council]

Thank you for using our LDF online system to submit your representation,
which we recieved as follows:

Representation Number: 921
Document: Sustainable Design and Construction SPD
Section: 3. The Sustainable Design & Construction Checklist, Sustainable
Design & Construction Checklist
Support/Object: Comment

Adaptation.

Row 1 
 The items in the first row are rather hard to comply with
especially those referring to flood risks.

 Avoiding the need for air-conditioning in the future (when it will
be warmer) is an excellent proposal provided it is taken seriously. It
would involve introducing some of the features of the PassivHaus. These
items are important. However the option “preferred” is an invitation to
developer to disregard if it becomes costly or difficult. 
 Has anyone estimated the cost of neglecting these items (e.g in
terms of extra CO2)? 


Row 3.  
 This is important for Clay Farm because of low level, proximity to
Hobson’s Brook and climate projections, which refer to increased risks of
extreme weather.  

Energy

The document “Sustainable Practice in Cambridgeshire” carries the advice
(Para.2 page2):

“With this level of anticipated growth it will be essential for new
developments to be built in such a way that their impact on the local and
global environment is minimised, and that environmental sustainability is
built in from the start.” (my italics).

With the current proposals  this opportunity will be lost. 
Comment: Most recommendations for reducing the CO2 output in Britain  will
be very hard to achieve. In contrast, reducing the increase of CO2
emissions by improvement of building standards would be relatively easy and
inexpensive. In fact increase in standards  will probably pay for
themselves especially if we take into account the saving produced by
omitting the installation of central heating and air conditioning and the
predicted rise in fuel price. In social housing Passivehous methods will
eliminate fuel poverty. 

(which section? Adaptation or The sustainable housing in ~Cambrigeshire? )
This section appears to be a copy of the temporary regulations imposed by
the government. There is no encouragement provided to the developer to
improve on these regulations and no reference to the fact that the
government also has a target of making all new building “carbon neutral” by
2016. (Not sure if this sentence makes sense) By allowing 90% of the
calculated increase of CO2 increases the effect may be that Cambridge will
become a black spot for CO2 increase. The 10% mentioned is of course only
theoretical. Experience with UK building shows that the achieved thermal
insulation tends to be considerably less than planned. 

Transport

Row 5. 
Are existing walking and cycling routes retained, and improved
where possible?

Is this also a government regulation? 
What does improved mean? The interests of cyclists and walkers are not
identical. For walkers, especially those with arthritis, asphalt makes
walking harder than a soft surface. 


SUMMARY

This is a detailed submission on the Checklist



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