Sub-Regional Projects
DDQ seeks to influence the housing design agenda not just across South Yorkshire, but across the wider region and nationally.
DDQ commissions specific projects within the sub-region of South Yorkshire with the dual aims of triggering improvements to housing in the specific area in which they are conducted, whilst also demonstrating their success to policy makers and stakeholders further afield by sharing best practice at industry events and conferences.
Examples of DDQ’s Sub-regional activity include:
- Sustainable Refurbishment
- Secured by Design
- Zero Carbon
- Residential Design Guide
- House Typology
Sustainable Refurbishment
The sustainable refurbishment agenda was explored at a practitioners' event in March 2009. Delegates were able to share best practice learning on sustainability and design for refurbished homes. At a time when government policy around this agenda was beginning to crystallise, DDQ encouraged delegates to consider how developers can maximise their progression towards Carbon Reduction Commitments by recognising and responding to this area of development.
Secured by Design
An event was held in May that involved Architect Liaison Officers and Development Control Planning Officers from each of the four authorities. Attendees were able to examine a scheme of drawings and score it on a shortened BfL and Secured by Design process. Members from each group were also invited to report back to the group on any matters that arose as a result of the meeting.
Zero Carbon
This programme ran for over nine months involving more than 60 delegates. Primarily it was aimed at private sector and RSL's housing developers and provides assistance to local developers and builders active in the South Yorkshire area to enable them to develop solutions which meet the higher levels of the Code for sustainable Homes (CSH). The programme included initially a review of South Yorkshire Local Authorities policies and practices, five awareness events including study visits to Bedzed and featuring presentations by leading key speakers in the field. The programme also included an extensive review of the supply chain for the industry.
Residential Design Guide
This project undertakes a 'refresh' of the current South Yorkshire residential design guidance, Better places to Live. The purpose of the refresh is to achieve a step-change in the design quality of new residential development. It is also to provide a robust and statutory framework fro use by the development industry and local authorities. It will reflect the Building for Life model of residential excellence and the recent manual for Street guidance. All four sub regional authorities will adopt all key parts of the guidance a supplementary Planning Documents to their Local Development Frameworks.
House Typology
The House Typology project was inspired by the 'standard house plans' that are used by developers. These reflect the ethos and business model of their organisation, and can be applied across the country in different situations and contexts.
This project develops the thesis that regions such as South Yorkshire might also have 'standard house plans' which reflect the circumstances of development in the region, and would be available to developers from all over the country who wanted to develop in the region.
Smaller regional developers will also be able to use them to improve design quality and meet statuatory conditions such as the code for sustainable homes within the limitations of their resources and business model.
The project aims to create a pattern book of house types that demonstrates how the aspirations and design standards that TSY/DDQ wish to set can be achieved in a cost effective manner.
