Policy information sourced from Sandridge Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan

D6 Sustainable Future Housing Design

Ensuring the health & wellbeing of residents is an essential part of the development process and should be designed into any future development as recommended in the Hertfordshire Health and Wellbeing Guidance and Public Health England’s Spatial Planning for Health.

The Parish supports the principles of sustainability and adaptability so aims to encourage future proofing new development where possible, whilst retaining the special character of the areas. Applications meeting some or more of the following standards will be viewed more favourably.

Environmental Design

  • Provision of an enclosed porch or weather-protected main entrance.
  • Triple-glazed coated glass used throughout any new development.
  • Includes a glazed south-facing area.
  • Levels of insulation in the walls/floors and roof are higher than those recommended by Building Regulations and made of non-combustible materials.
  • Orientation and layout to minimise need for heating.
  • The incorporation of solar thermal panels/PVs where practical.
  • High thermal mass dwellings and the creation of sunspaces with high thermal mass floors.
  • Incorporation of sun shading through overhanging eaves or other local characteristics.
  • Provision of a clothes drying area.
  • Natural ventilation with cross and stack ventilation being prioritised.
  • Good natural daylight throughout the house.
  • Incorporation of water saving measures and provision for grey water recycling.

Lifetime Design

  • A shower (and, ideally, a bath) provided downstairs.
  • Level thresholds or ramps at the main entrance door and back doors where practical.
  • Dimensions of living rooms to allow for arrangement of furniture rather than corridor arrangement as set out in ‘Technical housing standards – nationally described space standard’, otherwise known as DCLG standards.
  • Subject to local character, sill heights of windows in living rooms low enough to see outside while sitting or lying down.
  • Provision of special needs facilities (access to homes and shops, parking, road and pavement adaptations, toilets and so on) and that these are suitably integrated with other aspects of the environment and buildings.

For more information please see the Neighbourhood Plan