Policy information sourced from Thurrock Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development

PMD12 – SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

In determining planning applications for new development, the following criteria must be met:

Residential

Proposals for new or conversion to residential development must achieve a “Code for Sustainable Homes” level 4 rating, except in respect of any of the Code’s requirements that have been officially superseded by mandatory national standards.

In meeting the above requirement the Council will require the following credits to be achieved as a minimum in the respective design categories:

  • External Water Consumption: 1 credit
  • Management of surface water run-off from developments: 2 credits
  • Ecology: 4 credits

Non-residential (including Expansions or Extensions) over 1000m2 

Proposals for non-residential development must achieve, as a minimum, the following BREEAM standards (or equivalent), where appropriate:

  • BREEAM Very Good up to 2016;
  • BREEAM Excellent from 2016;
  • BREEAM Outstanding from 2019 (in addition to national standards for zero carbon).

These requirements may be relaxed where the developer is able to prove that these requirements will be economically unviable, rendering development of the site undeliverable.

Proposals for development will be required to submit an Energy and Water Statement in support of planning applications. The statements will be expected to show how the proposed development would:

  • Minimise water consumption;
  • Minimise energy consumption;
  • Maximise water efficiency and water recycling
  • Maximise the use of recycled materials and sustainably sourced materials; and
  • Minimise waste and maximise recycling during construction and after completion.

Further details of these requirements will be set out in the forthcoming Design and Standards DPD.

For more information please see the Core Strategy and Policies for Management of Development