Lower ‘green’ building standards threat to Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan

THAME Town Council is currently fighting the local planning authority over an amendment application by developer, Bellway Homes, to build new homes in Thame that will be of a lower standard of sustainability than those laid down in Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Image courtesy of Bellway Homes

Despite government guidance that the so-called ‘Code for Sustainable Homes‘ should be adhered to (principles set down in South Oxfordshire District Council’s own Core Strategy too),  SODC had told Thame Town Council that it will not take enforcement action if Bellway Homes fails to stick to the prescribed ‘Code Level 4’ standards.

Thame’s recently appointed Neighbourhood Plan Continuity Officer, Graham Markland has written to SODC on behalf of TTC, stating that removing the condition to build to the higher standard from Bellway’s Planning permission, raises particular concern around the area of conservation of energy.

Why do developers not want to stick to the ‘Sustainable Homes’ standards?

By not adhering to the original higher standards, which  have actually been scrapped by the government since the Core Strategy and the TNP, developers are able to build homes more cheaply – and make more profit.

The official reasons for changes in the regulations, which were the result of a Housing Standards Review published in April 2015, was to reduce the cost and complexity of building homes in England and stop the ‘pick and mix’ approach to housing standards by different local authorities in England.

New, watered-down rules are to be incorporated into building regulations at some point in the future and Thame Town Council’s view is that its policy, because it was drawn up under the original code, should stand.

Graham Markland told councillors at a recent meeting of the town council’s Planning and Environment Committee: “You only have to Google Bellway’s annual returns – if you were a shareholder, you probably wouldn’t be sitting here in this chamber!”

On it’s website, Bellway states: “All our new homes are designed to exceed the energy efficiency criteria set out in the relevant building regulations. This helps our customers minimise their running costs and their impact on the environment once they have taken ownership of the property. Where appropriate we may use a range of renewable energy technologies on developments, such as solar panels, photo-voltaic panels, air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps. All lighting in new homes is now energy efficient, boilers either meet or exceed current building regulations, windows are double-glazed and appliances are A-rated or better for energy consumption. All these initiatives help to lower the energy bills for our customers.”