A Practical Guide to Creating a Sustainable Community Building

STAGE1Getting started: the building feasibility studyWhat you should have achieved by the end of Stage 1As a community group, you will have:-appointed a lead person for sustainability issues from your community group.selected and appointed your professional team (architect, QS, landscape architect,surveyor and others).communicated all your preparatory work to your architect, including community needsand profile, sustainability aspirations, and feedback from study visits.written an initial Project Brief laying out the scope of the project and requirements insustainability and quality standards.confirmed the acceptability of your chosen site with regard to basic planningrequirements, confirming that there are no “fatal flaws”.agreed the optimum use and layout of the site, with particular reference to the levelsurvey, landscaping aspects and orientation of the building.received an initial design and outline proposal prepared by your architect ready forfurther development – including sketch design (elevations and plan section) suitable forplanning application.received an estimate of the likely capital costs based on the draft specification andplan.identified eligible funding sources to contribute to any additional sustainability costs inyour building.received a Feasibility Study report from the design team, which documents all theabove.[approval of planning permission if you have chosen to submit an application at thisstage – see note above].11