Chris Smith, Head of New Build at Polypipe Building Products, discusses the importance of supporting housebuilders through initiatives that will help to meet the Government’s ambitious housebuilding targets.
When it comes to housing targets, the industry is facing several challenges including planning obstacles, building safety, changing legislation, a skills shortage and ambitious net zero targets. So, while enhanced rules are positive for improving the quality of our buildings, in some cases, making sure new designs are compliant is contributing to a blockage of supply.
However, all is not lost. Labour’s planning reforms do have the potential to unblock some planning bottlenecks and reduce delays to projects, which will be beneficial to everyone across the supply chain. Therefore, over time, we can expect the pace of housebuilding to increase and to see innovations in the industry as organisations meet, and exceed, the new regulations.
But in today’s changing landscape, the sector has a tough task on its hands. And there is no single solution. What we do know, though, is that if we are serious about reversing the decline in housebuilding and meeting both Net Zero and housing targets, it will be critical for stakeholders to work together and embrace innovative ideas.
Considering the bigger carbon-picture
In recent years, we have seen a significant shift in the industry’s approach to reducing operational. This has been partially driven by demand but also driven by updates to Building Regulations, such as Part L. Many in the industry are encouraging the use of low energy systems in both new builds and retrofit projects to reduce our carbon footprints.
However, while the UK is making some progress in decreasing the operational carbon produced by our buildings – with more interest in renewables than ever before – when it comes to embodied carbon, we need to do better. Operational carbon refers to the carbon produced by a building material or product while in use. Embodied carbon encompasses a product’s carbon impact from any raw materials being extracted, through manufacturing, and throughout its life thereafter.
While reducing the use of operational carbon has been at the forefront of conversations around sustainability for years – and plays a critical role in meeting Net Zero – as an industry, we also need to think of the bigger picture. This means not only considering the impact of a product while in operation, or even what it is made from, but also what happens to materials at the end of their life and excess materials that never get utilised at all.
Today, we are seeing some steps in the right direction. An increasing number of companies are implementing science-based targets, focussing on designing with deconstruction – rather than demolition – in mind, and manufacturers are also increasing the volume of recycled content within products. But we all need to take responsibility for the impact we – as individuals and as firms – can have.
Building resilient urban developments
Building products themselves aren’t the only obstacle. Climate change, extreme weather events and ageing infrastructure are also impacting how – and how quickly – we can build.
It is no secret that the UK is battling with higher intensity rainfall and an increased risk of flooding in urban areas. This means it isn’t just the products we use that need consideration, but also the systems that we design and install them into.
However, all is not lost. The industry has been innovating for decades, which means that many of the solutions required to support housebuilders are already available. When it comes to climate resilience, for example, one solution is sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), which have been recognised in the sector for generations, despite adoption being relatively low.
Sustainable drainage systems are designed to manage stormwater sustainably, reducing the risk of flooding while also mitigating future environmental impact. This is because, unlike traditional systems that simply channel water away, SuDS mimic natural water processes. They facilitate water infiltration, storage, and controlled release into watercourses, improving water quality and promoting biodiversity. This means that prioritising such systems can not only help to mitigate the immediate environmental footprint of a development but can contribute to long-term sustainability targets, too.
The adoption of such solutions will be especially important when considering the Labour Party’s plans to reform the UK planning system. In fact, it’s five golden rules include Brownfield first, grey belt second, affordable homes, boosting public services and infrastructure, and protecting genuine green space.
Each of these rules point to increasing the speed at which Britain can – at least, potentially – build, but, also at how the new planning laws have changed the land distribution for spatial planning. This means that the landscapes upon which we build will have varying levels of resilience, flood defences and environmental security.
A circular approach
However, the changes to how we operate, and build, do not end there. Attention must be placed on shifting to a more circular method of material use. The industry has a bleak record when it comes to sending waste to landfill. In fact, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reports that the sector produces around 100 million tonnes of waste every year and the Construction Industry Waste Report found that the industry is responsible for 62% of the UK’s waste as well as 32% of all waste sent to landfill.
So, if we truly want to decrease our impact on the environment, we need to significantly reduce the waste produced on site. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we encourage all housebuilders and suppliers to use materials sparingly – not only is this better for the environment but it’s also more cost-effective.
Joining forces
While building legislation and the issue of supporting housebuilders to be more sustainable continues to be a major challenge, new build homes also continue to dominate housing delivery, accounting for 90% of net additions. It is therefore vital that the housebuilding industry works together to ensure initiatives and systems are put in place to help housebuilders not only to reduce operational carbon, but to move towards a circular economy, too.
For further information on Polypipe Building Products Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) visit Sustainable Drainage Systems | Polypipe.
To visit the Polypipe Building Products Future Homes Hub visit Future Homes Hub | Polypipe Under Floor Heating
