Zero Carbon – Zero Cost?
Alistair Darling’s first Budget is certainly putting the pressure on all of us in the property world to consider the environmental impact of our activities on the planet. So the latest Quarterly Property Debate run by South West law firm Foot Anstey with the Western Morning News could not be more topical.
“Are we willing to pay for green buildings?” is on 24th April 2008 at 4pm at the Alverton Manor in Truro.
This “Question Time” debate will have a panel of Mike Roberts, Board member of the UK Green Building Council and Director of Vertigo Sustainable Development Consultants; Michael Griffin, Senior Land Manager of Barrett Homes (Exeter) and Chair of the House Builders Federation (South West) and Paul Bright, Chief Executive of the Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust.
The audience will be able to hear the panel’s views and then debate environmental issues including the Budget, the regional spatial strategy and the Area Action Plans.
Gavin Poole associate at South West law firm Foot Anstey said “Alastair Darling’s “green” Budget is certainly pushing barriers but how will that impact on our lives? No doubt the environmental groups want us to live and work in the same place to reduce travel emissions and use buildings more efficiently. Is that a way of life that we all want to aspire to?
“The Regional Spatial Strategy and the revisions to the planning regime mean a greater intensity of building and use of land for residential purposes. The drive towards building new homes to deal with the expected influx into the South West will have a significant impact on the local environment. That will no doubt come at a cost, both in money and social terms and that cost needs to be balanced against the social and economic benefits from this development.
“There is a current project underway to prepare a single Local Development Framework for the whole of Cornwall which will set out the County’s development aspirations. As an important element of this process the aspirations of local communities will be set out in local action plans.
“It is important for everyone in the community to voice their opinion on how they want to see their towns develop over the next 20 years. Consultation periods may still be running in some districts and the sorts of social issues referred to above will need to be considered in the round with other local issues. This is an issue all communities across the South West will be facing”
For more information or to book onto the event “Are we willing to pay for green buildings?” click here
Published 27/03/2008
