Blenheim Realty - Environment

Building Environmentally Conscious Developments

In order to achieve in today's global and heightening competitive markets we ensure that we appreciate what we contribute towards, are aware of the implications of what we produce and understand the rules that we must adhere to make the whole process work.

Understanding of Local Environment, such as:

•    Density - There are various planning policy guidelines and mandates from the UK government. One of the issues the government has touched upon is the lack of housing in the UK generally. Planning guidelines under various PPG initiatives advocate efficient use of land where possible. This makes good sense when land can be a scarce resource. 
 
•    Development Constraints – We realise that we need to give back to the environment and the social community. Thus an appreciation of potential development constraints including Section 106 requirements and social housing is imperative.  In addition, the Government from time to time changes its definitions of land. For example in June 2010 Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) was amended to exclude garden land from the label of previously developed land, further they removed the indicative minimum densities and the regional numbers of houses that Councils were supposed to meet.  At Blenheim we pride ourselves in maintaining planning policy knowledge, endeavouring to find solutions and arguments for future developments (whether it be a single garden plot or a larger agricultural swathe of land).  

•    Environment Agency Policies - Using our experience of working on difficult sites in the past has helped us embrace an awareness of the potential impact that water courses will have and has provided us with knowledge of how to work with these potential constraints and build a functional design around these obstacles in harmony with the area.

•    Use of materials – If developments can embrace a more “green” use of materials then all the better.  Under planning guidance this has become a heightened topic but one that we have enthusiastically taken to, thus ensuring that we use local materials and design our buildings with an environmental conscience.

•    Contamination – Where governments have pointed to land re-use (Brownfield sites), we must and do ensure that sites are efficiently made clean and be aware of environment repercussions.

•    Habitat – Developments should be sympathetic with nature; a keen attention to detail is followed by us when encroaching on potential nature and conservation areas.