Section one explains how housing can make a contribution to sustainability objectives, and how incorporating sustainability design principles can improve quality, performance and value for money in housing.

Section two examines rehabilitation, repairs and maintenance.

Section three deals with aspects of sustainability connected with place making, covering transport, land use planning, social cohesion and community issues.

Sections four to seven look at the functional design of dwellings, covering energy and physical resource efficiency, affordable warmth, and health issues.

Section eight explores the financial and management implications of sustainable housing, including procurement and life cycle costing.

Section nine summarises lessons learnt from case studies of innovative housing developments.

Section ten presents 23 individual case studies of housing projects which have promoted sustainable design.

The research was commissioned by Communities Scotland with support from the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland. The main aim is to provide a reference source for housing providers adopting sustainable development principles and practices in housing maintenance and development.

Sustainability standards and objectives are required by the Scottish Executive and set by the Scottish Building Standards Agency, with new standards coming into force in May 2007. Communities Scotland also requires registered social landlords to address sustainability defined in the Performance and Normative Standards.

The research involved: a review of literature, websites and technical information on sustainable design, sustainability indicators and sustainability assessment tools, including the Building Research Establishment’s Ecohomes.

The case studies demonstrate how housing associations have been involved in sustainable design, build, maintenance and refurbishment of housing. Examples of good practice in the case studies are highlighted.

New build activity represents only one per cent of the total housebuilding stock, this means that potentially, existing stock can make the most effective contribution to meeting the sustainability objectives.

The main lessons learnt from the case studies are grouped under the following themes:

Communities Scotland
Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace
EH12 5HE Edinburgh
Phone: +44 131 313 0044
enquiries@communitiesscotland.gsi.gov.uk

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01/01/2007

Fionn Stevenson; Nick Williams

research

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing quality

Housing design & standards