The Land Trust has cautiously welcomed the recent Government's announcement to speed up appropriate development, but is concerned that by relaxing the planning process on brownfield land, it removes the crucial decision making process to ensure that the use of land is appropriately balanced. read more...

If you were to ask almost anyone on the street what comes to mind when you mention the phrase 'green building' to them, they will inevitable say "straw bale!" Maybe it provokes memories from the fairy tale 'The 3 little pigs' or it may just be that they have seen some striking examples of straw bale homes on popular TV shows such as 'Grand Designs.' read more...

The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) have thrown it's support behind an open letter from the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) to the Government regarding a decision to scrap the zero carbon targets for both homes and non-domestic buildings.

In a rallying cry to members of the AECB today, the Chief Executive of the organisation, Andy Simmonds said: "We are sure that AECB members will want to support this UK-GBC Open Letter response to the government's decision to scrap the Zero Carbon Homes target." read more...

Unable to afford to buy a conventional home a west Wales couple built a beautiful eco-home on land owned by one of their parents. Charlie Hague and Megan Williams applied for retrospective planning permission but were left heartbroken when Pembrokeshire planners voted 9-4 to bulldoze the turf-roofed family home adjacent to the Lammas project*. read more...

The Cre8 Barn at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Stirley Community Farm in Huddersfield has recently been announced as the winner in the 'Retrofit Projects' category in the UK Passivhaus Awards 2015, at a ceremony on Tuesday 7th July in London organised by the Passivhaus Trust read more...

Last week, the Government confirmed within the 'Fixing the Foundations' productivity report its intention not to proceed with the zero carbon buildings policy, which was initially announced in 2007. However, in their rush to remove restrictions for businesses the government risks upsetting not only the public but the very businesses that they are trying to unburden.

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On the 7th July Steel Farm became the national winner of the Small Project Category at the UK Passivhaus Awards. Steel Farm is located near Hexham in the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB). Built using traditional construction technology it is the first Certified Passivhaus in Northumberland.

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The sustainability credentials of building refurbishment and fit-out projects around the world can now be reliably assessed and compared, following the launch of BREEAM International Refurbishment and Fit-Out this month.

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