November 28, 2013

Stephen Scrivens CEO of Hydrotechnology and Technical Landscapes
Land

UK Judge: Green home design is secondary to planning rules

Stephen Scrivens  CEO of Hydrotechnology and Technical LandscapesA green campaigner’s plans to develop eco-friendly houses powered only by the sun and wind have been thrown out by the High Court.

A judge rejected Stephen Scrivens’ latest bid for planning consent to create his blueprint for houses of the future.

Mr Scrivens’ plans to build a self-sufficient house at Longberry Farm, Bethersden, where he lives, had already been rejected by Ashford Borough Council and two government planning inspectors.

In a test case ruling, Mr Justice Collins said that, despite a European directive setting a target for all new homes to be “nearly zero-energy” by December 31, 2020, energy considerations did not constitute a “trump card” when it came to planning consent.

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Winter check your home

Its an indication of how worried we are about heating bills that one of the most popular viral videos shows someone claiming they can heat a small room in their home for 8p (13c) a day – using tea lights and terracotta flower pots.

We can, however, retain more of the heat we pay for by making sure that it doesn’t escape. It’s not too late to give the home a winter check – the most obvious escape routes for heat are windows, doors, ceilings and floors.

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