Formal Code for Sustainable Homes Assessment Stages
The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) is the benchmark for measuring the sustainability of new houses in the United Kingdom. For many new building programmes it is required to carry out an assessment and meet demanding targets in terms of energy performance, water use, material use and other environmental and sustainability issues. This is particularly the case for house building that is part funded through government grants, for instance by Housing Associations. An increasing number of local authorities have set Code for Sustainable Homes ratings that need to be achieved for any new housing build in their area.
There are two formal parts to the Code for Sustainable Homes assessment process: a CSH design stage assessment and a CSH post construction review. The official and final certificate can only be awarded upon the post construction review. Technically it is not required to undertake a design stage assessment. The post construction review would than act as the complete CSH assessment. There is how ever a good reason to undertake a CSH design stage assessment. In case the assessment reveals a shortcoming in the design, alterations to increase the sustainability performance can be made relatively cost effectively before the start of construction.
Code for Sustainable Homes Pre-assessment
There is a third stage that is often referred to when discussing Code for Sustainable Homes assessments: the pre-assessment stage. The pre-assessment stage is not a formal part of the CSH assessment process, but it is a valuable tool nevertheless.
Firstly a Code for Sustainable Homes pre-assessment helps to identify the constraints and opportunities for each specific development in achieving the required rating. Certain elements of the CSH credit award method are specific to the selected development site rather than to the design, specification and construction methodology of the buildings themselves. Once the constraints and opportunities have been identified a strategy can be developed for the cost-effective targeting of CSH credits.
A pre-assessment is also an excellent tool for a construction company wishing to tender for a contract with a Code for Sustainable Homes requirement. The pre-assessment will give further information about the building specification that is required to achieve the required CSH rating.
Finally, achieving a certain CSH rating is increasingly becoming a planning requirement. Submitting a Code for Sustainable Homes pre-assessment report with the planning application is an excellent means of demonstrating to the local planning authority that the requirements can be met.
CSHWeb can carry out all three assessments. Please contact us to discuss your project at paul.giesberg@planningforsustainability.co.uk.
