Old Kempshott Lane - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

9.0 Design and ConstructionA well designed housing layout canachieve individuality anddistinctiveness by making the most ofthe site and its natural features. Thesite offers the opportunity tointroduce a high standard of designby replacing the more usual suburbandistributor road, culs de sac andstandard house types with avenues,squares, crescents and streets. Thistraditional enclosure of spaces can befurther extended in the use of walls,railings and hedges to emphasise thesense of space and, when combinedwith distinctive materials, will help tointroduce variety and contrast andneighbourhood identity.The Borough Council will encourage theuse of sustainable development principlesin the scheme, including innovative designand construction technology, solarpowered devices, energy efficiencymaterials and grey water recycling.Consideration also needs to be given tothe use of communal satellite dishes andInformation Technology connections toeach dwelling and within the home forintegrated multimedia communications.The development can reflect any distinctivecharacter that is present in the area in theuse of detailing or materials without theneed to copy or reproduce historic styles.Materials can include contemporary,modern materials as well as traditional ones.A modern approach to the developmentusing innovative and sustainable housingcan create interest and variety and give adistinctive character to the developmentwithout it appearing out of place.In addition to the need to consider theoverall approach taken in the design,layout, and the Standard AssessmentProcedure (SAP) energy rating requiredunder the Building Regulations, theproposals can be assessed under BREEAM(BRE Environmental Assessment Methodfor buildings - Homes) covering a range ofenvironmental factors, including:■ CO2 emissions■ healthy building features■ air quality and ventilation■ ecology of the site■ water conservation■ noise■ lightingThe scheme could qualify for the BuildingResearch Establishment (BRE)Environmental Standard Award. This Awardwas launched in April 1995 as the mark ofenvironmental quality for UKhomebuilders, designed to encourage‘greener’ construction and energy efficienthousing that is built to reduce the impacton both the global and local environment.old kempshott lane development brief