Designing Chilterns buildings for the future (Status: Press release)

NEW buildings must be designed to withstand extreme weather events, says a guide to building in the Chilterns published recently. The predicted effects of climate change include the likelihood of more severe storms which means houses will need bigger gutters and drainpipes to cope with heavy rain.

Putting up buildings with a low carbon footprint is another key area of advice in the Chilterns Buildings Design Guide. Using local materials like wood and flint and incorporating heating systems that use renewable fuels such as woodchips from local woods all help to reduce a building?s impact on the environment.

?We strongly believe it is possible to build new houses which blend in with the typical character of Chilterns? villages and which are also energy-efficient and designed to cope with a changing climate,? says Colin White, Planning Officer at the Chilterns Conservation Board.

?This new edition of the Design Guide contains a lot more information on building sustainably and is full of detailed advice for property owners, architects, builders and planners,? he added.

The Chilterns Buildings Design Guide was first published by the Chilterns Conservation Board in 1999 and has been widely adopted by local councils as Supplementary Planning Guidance. Its aim is to promote the beauty of traditional cottages, houses and farm buildings in the Chilterns and offers advice on how new buildings in the area can respect the traditions of the past and fit in with their surroundings. This new edition has been updated to take account of current environmental concerns and contains many new images.

The Design Guide was launched on February 23, 2010, at the Royal British Legion Hall in Princes Risborough.

Printed copies of the Chilterns Buildings Design Guide can be purchased for