Sustainability Statements
RPS offers practical and commercial advice enabling clients to progress their proposals through the planning process and deliver developments that meet a broad range of sustainability challenges.
Sustainability issues exist at the heart of national and local Government planning policy and Local Authority planning documents all include specific policies on the provision of development projects that are sustainable. Developers are increasingly being required to consider the sustainability of a development during the planning process and to demonstrate how sustainability issues will be addressed.
RPS provides focused advice for all stages of a project from initial concept through to operational use. Our advice covers all aspects of sustainable design and construction and building management. We assist clients in demonstrating to local authorities and interested parties how their development proposals meet the sustainability challenges, ensuring that schemes continue to operate sustainably post-construction.
Work generally involves ensuring the relevant planning requirements are met through ongoing dialogue with the project team, and consultation with the planning authority regarding the sustainability measures to be incorporated. This includes consideration of factors such as energy efficiency, water conservation, flood risk, and community impacts.
We compile Sustainability Statements for submission to the Local Authority to highlight the positive aspects of the scheme and demonstrate the commitment of the developer to ensuring the development will be sustainable. They are often supported by predictive assessments for the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and the Code for Sustainable Homes.
RPS is able to ensure that the developer obtains planning permission, whilst incorporating the most suitable and cost-efficient measures into the development. We can also assist in the post-planning stages by providing practical advice on the implementation of the measures and the ongoing sustainable use of the development.