The New National Technical Standards (NNTS) has been brought about on the back of the Deregulation Bill after concerns about planning bodies adding extra layers of technical requirements.

Benfield Low Energy Buildings has stated this change to legislation will have far reaching consequences for local authorities, specifiers and house builders.

No More Code

The most significant change to current legislation is planning bodies can no longer mandate the Code for Sustainable Homes as part of planning permissions. There are additional changes to a number of parts of the Building Regulations.

No new planning permissions can mandate the Code and it will be existing sites working through their Code requirements.

-- Advertisement --

Planning authorities will not be allowed to set out any demands beyond Building Regulations except in very tightly defined areas and subject to consultation and viability.

Revised building regulations will set national standards for accessibility (Part M), security (Part Q), and efficient water use (Part G), as well as an ambitious new zero carbon standard from 2016 for new build projects of over ten homes.

The impetus will be with local authorities to implement these new housing standards, however the guidelines for how the old and new regulations will fit together at a national standard is less than clear.

Sound Choices

While Part E of the Building Regulations has not been affected by the changes to housing standards, the design and delivery of Low Energy Homes often has an associated impact via the type and performance of thermal insulation. This is central to Benfield's business mission and it is constantly researching and developing new materials, techniques, approaches and looking for likeminded architects, housing providers, builders and self-builders with similar interests and objectives.

For more information about Benfield, click here.