Forum topic: Developers to exhibit details of proposed Arnos Grove station housing scheme

I believe what is being missed is the opportunity to allow the build, but subject to environmental building stipulations. UK building regulations are frankly pitiful. Airtightness standards are risible, insulation mediocre at best, renewables rarely mandated and embodied energy doesn’t even get a look in. All that matters is the build cost bottom line with no consideration whatsoever for running costs for the purchaser nor the building’s effect on the environment and the people who live nearby. The result? Cheap-as-possible, inefficient-as-allowed housing that makes a quick buck for those involved. As soon as this is approved any influence we have on making this a worthwhile contribution to our environment will disappear just as quickly as the developers as they move on to their new prospect.

Chelsea's point is absolutely right. The council has set up a climate emergency task force, whose discussions are so far being kept secret because of "commercial sensitivity", but undoubtedly one of the lines will be working on must be imposing far stricter environmental standards on all new building in the borough. They must ensure that environmental standards are toughened up before this development, the new housing at Cockfosters and the replacement for Southgate Office Village are given the go-ahead. This might mean that the architects will need to go back to the drawing board and that costs will rise, but unless action is taken the longer-term costs to the environment will far outweigh them.

To add to my point, from a fiscally prudent point of view it makes far more sense to address the issue at time of build - it being considerably cheaper to install/build-in at this stage, rather than post build. Just for a start, I’m sure you can imagine the difference the price that an individual can negotiate purchasing a single solar system and a developer purchasing say 30 or 50. Still there continues to be a large number of developments springing up with absolutely no foresight or care concerning these issues, whilst the Treasury enacts legislation to raise VAT for home solar-battery systems from 5% to 20%, at the same time advising rates for fossil fuels including gas and coal should remain at 5%. Go figure.