MRB News

Hat Trick of Awards for MRB Projects

Mon, 14 May 2012 18:01:20 +0000

Three recently completed MRB projects have won prestigious awards. GMI Property’s New Bridge Street development in Clay Cross picked up the RICS East Midlands Regeneration award, The new Follifoot Wing at Rudding Park Hotel, which includes 48 luxury bedrooms and suites together with a wellness centre was highly commended in the RICS ProYorkshire awards leisure and tourism category whilst GPL’s £35m mixed use Broad Street Plaza development in Halifax was voted best commercial development at the Yorkshire Property awards.

BREEAM and Planning - A Survival Guide

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:22:52 +0000

In recent years, the setting of minimum BREEAM ratings has become the main mechanism for sustainability in the planning process. More and more planning authorities are requiring new and refurbished buildings to meet ever higher BREEAM standards.

The speed of the uptake of BREEAM by planners and the lack of information or training by the BRE for planners in the scheme and process, has often resulted in unrealistic or impractical planning conditions to be written. Poorly worded conditions can result in delays for construction work, and the restriction of occupation for several months following completion.

Typical Planning Problems

• Design Stage certificate required before start on site
• Post Construction certificate required before handover
• Unrealistically high standards required for Shell developments
• Stop notices issued due to lack of BREEAM certification
• Impractical timeframes for a Design & Build contract compared to a Tradtional Build

How We Can Help You

MRB have been working in conjunction with several councils, the BRE and organisations to educate and talk about changes in BREEAM requirements, to ensure that planning conditions are worded correctly and that realistic standards can be achieved.

We would be happy to visit your office either to discuss this in more detail, or to give a short presentation to a wider audience within your organisation. We have designed the presentation to be of interest to anyone involved in the planning process, but could tailor to specific areas of interest if required.

For more information on our BREEAM offering or to find out how we can help you, please contact Sam Jones or call our office on 01937 585082

New Concourse for Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Tue, 01 May 2012 07:55:37 +0000

Work is nearing completion of a new concourse and reception facility at Chesterfield Royal Hospital for Clients; Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust. The contemporary design of the concourse was undertaken by architects, The Manser Practice and is our fourth project for Trust working together. We are also close to completing a new Opthalmology department following the successful delivery of a new 96 bed wards block and new maternity suite.

BREEAM AP Accreditation

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 07:38:09 +0000

John McElwee has recently joined Sam Jones and Mike Slater in achieving BREEAM AP accreditation.

BREEAM AP is an exemplar qualification awarded to candidates that have demonstrated specialist skills in sustainability and environmental design combined with a high level of competence in the BREEAM assessment process.

BREEAM AP’s provide a design team with expert advice on built environment sustainability, environmental design and environmental assessment. They can facilitate the design team’s efforts to successfully schedule activities, set priorities and negotiate the trade-offs required to maximise their score in achieving a target BREEAM rating when the design is formally assessed.

Up to three additional BREEAM credits are available under BREEAM 2011 assessments and up to two credits are available under BREEAM 2008 assessments when Clients use the services of a BREEAM AP.

All of MRB Energy and Sustainability’s BREEAM Assessors are accredited BREEAM AP’s.

BREEAM in use

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:31:40 +0000

BREEAM In-Use is a scheme to help building managers reduce the running costs and improve the environmental performance of existing buildings. It consists of a standard, easy-to-use assessment methodology and an independent certification process that provides a clear and credible route map to improving sustainability. Parts 1 and 2 of the BREEAM In-Use Certification Scheme are relevant to all non-domestic: commercial, industrial, retail and institutional buildings. Part 3 of the BREEAM In-Use certification scheme is currently restricted to offices.

The biggest opportunity to address the environmental impact lies in better management and improvement of the existing building stock. BREEAM In-Use has been developed to recognise and encourage better building management and targeted investment in existing building stock.

The environmental performance of an organisation’s built assets is a key factor in its sustainability credentials and carbon footprint. Operating a building also represents a major cost – with soaring energy prices and an uncertain economic outlook, cutting energy, water, waste and other such costs can be a relatively easy way of improving profitability. BREEAM In-Use is designed to:

Reduce operational costs,

Enhance the value and marketability of property assets,

Provide a transparent platform for landlords, owners and tenants to identify and negotiate building improvements,

Provide a route to compliance with environmental legislation and standards, including energy labelling and ISO 14001,

Facilitate engagement with staff in the identification of productivity improvements and sustainable business practices,

Provide a vehicle to evaluate and improve Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),

Provide genuine evidence of sustainability and CSR.

For more information contact our sustainability consultant, Sam Jones on sam.jones@mrb.uk.net