EcoHomes and BREEAM

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EcoHomes / BREEAM Assessments

EcoHomes/BREEAM and Ecology

The Ecohomes/BREEAM Assessment scheme rewards developers who improve the environmental performance of a development through good design and planning. The EcoHomes issues assessed are grouped into seven categories, which are as follows:

Energy;
Water;
Pollution;
Materials;
Transport;
Ecology and land use; and
Health and well-being.

Many of the issues are optional, ensuring EcoHomes is flexible enough to be tailored to a particular development or market.

EcoHomes ecology and land use assessments are aimed at encouraging development on land that already has a limited value to wildlife and to discourage the development of ecologically valuable sites.

The ecological value of a site is affected by previous land uses and the presence of ecological features. It is considered that derelict and mono-cultural sites are often low in ecological value. EcoHomes awards credit for developing on land that has been previously built on within the past two years and/or is devoid of significant ecological features.

For the development to score points on ecology and land use it must be demonstrated that:

The development has been developed on land of inherently low ecological value;
That features of ecological interest have been enhanced/created;
That there has been the protection of existing ecological features from substantial damage during the clearing of the site and the completion of construction works; and
That the change in ecological value of the site has been assessed.

The above requirements need to be demonstrated either by meeting the defined criteria for ‘low ecological value’ or by providing an ecological report of the site prepared by a registered ecological consultant (full member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM)) which should state that the land being developed is of low or insignificant ecological value, or will remain undisturbed by the construction works in areas of ecological value.

ECOSA Services

Ecological Survey and Assessment (ECOSA) have carried out a number of EcoHome/ BREEAM Assessments. This involved Phase I Habitat surveys and protected species surveys to assess the ecological value of a site pre-and post-development. ECOSA can also advise on innovative ecological enhancement measures and the protection of ecological features of interest.

Links

BREEAM Website

Disclaimer

Although we have taken great care to ensure that our information and advice is correct, we cannot accept any responsibility for any incorrect information, loss or damage incurred arising from the use of the information published on our web site. For further advice, detailed surveys and quotations please contact ECOSA.