Launch Event

09 March 2009

NWDA Sustainable Buildings Awareness Raising & Knowledge Transfer Programme

5th February 2009, CUBE, Manchester
 
Northwest Development Agency's Sustainable Buildings programme launch event was a great sucess.  The event launched the two year programme of work to raise awareness about, and transfer the knowledge required for effectively implementing, the development agencies Sustainable Buildings Policy
http://www.nwda.co.uk/sustainablebuildings.
 
The event was attended by a range of organisations related to the construction sector. They came from both the demand and the supply sides of the construction industry. More than half were from contractors, architects, engineers and surveyors, with smaller numbers from a wide range of other types of organisations – local authorities, housing associations, suppliers, research and advisory organisations, NGOs and higher education.
 
At the Launch Event event, participants were asked what actions should be taken to:

- raise awareness and develop understanding, and
- effectively implement NWDA policy on sustainable buildings.
 
The actions that they prioritised are listed below.
 
Actions to raise awareness and develop understanding:
Participants identified a long list of actions that they thought the NWDA should take to raise awareness and to develop understanding of its policy on sustainable buildings. There is a strong emphasis on the Regional Development Agency actively building the capacity of both the demand and supply sides of the industry, and of its regulators, to respond effectively and then enforcing its policy.  
 
Summary of Priorities

Train and educate
Monitor and assess
Analyse cost benefits
Offer financial incentives
Enforce policy
Focus on implementation and delivery
Raise awareness
Provide exemplars
Commit public sector
Integrate planning and building control
Target clients and developers
Market campaign
Promote technologies
 
Actions to implement NWDA policy effectively

Participants also identified a long list of actions that they thought the NWDA should take to implement its policy on sustainable buildings effectively. Many of these had already been suggested for raising awareness but here were given different levels of priority.
In order to implement policy effectively, more emphasis is place on a co-ordinated programme of free and local training linked to CPD. Monitoring and measurement against targets is stressed, using agreed assessment methods and KPIs to provide evidence (such as costs and benefits analyses) on implementing sustainable buildings in particular sectors.
Both carrots and sticks are seen as necessary. Financial incentives, grants and tax breaks are recommended to meet what are seen as the increased cost of constructing to the higher standards required for sustainable buildings. Consistent enforcement of the policy is called for, perhaps even penalties for non-compliance.

If you are interested in finding out more about this programme of work please contact Emma Kyng emma.kyng@ccinw.com 0161 295 5076.