Policy information sourced from Dacorum Core Strategy

CS29: Sustainable Design and Construction

New development will comply with the highest standards of sustainable design and construction possible. The following principles should normally be satisfied:

  • Use building materials and timber from verified sustainable sources;
  • Minimise water consumption during construction;
  • Recycle and reduce construction waste which may otherwise go to landfill.
  • Provide an adequate means of water supply, surface water and foul drainage;
  • Plan to limit residential indoor water consumption to 105 litres per person per day until national statutory guidance supersedes this advice;
  • Plan to minimise carbon dioxide emissions;
  • Maximise the energy efficiency performance of the building fabric, in accordance with the energy hierarchy set out in Figure 16;
  • Incorporate at least one new tree per dwelling/per 100sqm (for non residential developments) on-site;
  • Minimise impacts on biodiversity and incorporate positive measures to support wildlife;
  • Minimise impermeable surfaces around the curtilage of buildings and in new street design;
  • Incorporate permeable and lighter coloured surfaces within urban areas; and
  • Provide on-site recycling facilities for waste.

Buildings will be designed to have a long life and adaptable internal layout. Applicants will therefore need to explain how:

  • they have considered the whole life cycle of the building and how the materials could be recycled at the end of the building’s life; and
  • their design has been ‘future proofed’ to enable retrofitting to meet tighter energy efficiency standards and connection to decentralised community heating systems.

For specified types of development applicants should provide a Sustainability Statement.

Where new development cannot meet on-site energy or tree planting requirements, the applicant will be expected to contribute towards sustainability offsetting if at all possible (see Policy CS30).

If a scheme would be unviable or there is not a technically feasible approach, the principles in this policy may be relaxed.

For more information please see the Core Strategy