IHBC Chair David McDonald, writing for England’s National Planning Forum (NPF) 2020 Vision – which called for members’ thoughts on ‘Planning in a post-COVID world’ – urges a structured rebellion against demolition, while NewsBlog readers are invited to the Vision’s virtual launch on 16 October at 11am, with commentators to include Liz Peace CBE, Steve Quartermain CBE, Fiona Reynolds and more.
The NPF writes:
In a nutshell David’s contribution proposes that there should be wider control of demolition in the planning system and that embodied energy should be an important material consideration. To find out more join the launch of the 2020 Vision and read future Newsblogs.
…give effective control over demolition…
…set out criteria for demolition in terms of embodied energy…
The IHBC’ Chair, David McDonald writes:
My proposals are as follows…
First, both legislation (including statutory instruments) and policy need to be changed to give effective control over demolition, with greater consideration given to conservation of embodied energy.
…a reduction in VAT for works to existing buildings…
Second, changes to the NPPF which should set out criteria for demolition in terms of embodied energy which then becomes a key material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications.
Third (and not planning legislation), a reduction in VAT for works to existing buildings. This one is certainly not an original proposal and has been subject of campaigning by the IHBC and others. For developers, this is the ‘carrot’ _to offset the ‘stick’ _of more onerous legislation…
… A downloadable PDF of the publication will be available…from 16 October.
