Practice has worked with sustainability consultant Etude on documents supporting city’s carbon targets
Levitt Bernstein has drawn up a set of net zero guidance documents to help architects comply with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) target to build nearly 200,000 homes over the next 13 years.
The practice has worked with sustainability consultant Etude to develop the three-part document series, which supports the mayoralty’s plans to make Manchester a carbon neutral city by 2038.
The Places for Everyone development plan, unveiled by the city’s mayor Andy Burnham in 2021, covers nine local authorities in Greater Manchester, spanning Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
The initiative became part of the statutory development plan for each of the nine local authorities in March last year.
It includes a commitment to build 30,000 net zero social rented homes across the nine boroughs using the new Truly Affordable Net Zero (TANZ) operational energy standard.
Levitt Bernstein and Etude’s guidance helps architects comply with the requirements of TANZ and Places for Everyone policies JP-S2, on energy and carbon, and JP-S3, on low carbon heat.
The documents contain practical sustainability strategies tailored to different development types and techniques for streamlining planning submissions.
The first of three documents is an illustrated net zero design guide with case studies, the second focuses on low carbon heating solutions and the third offers guidance on the planning process and appropriate calculation methodologies.
Levitt Bernstein sustainability director Clare Murray said the guidance brings “proportionality and a streamlined submission process to support applicants and local authorities alike”.
Salford city mayor Paul Dennett said the guidance offers “practical, accessible strategies that support high-quality, low-carbon and energy efficient development.”
The documents are intended to evolve over time, with periodic updates planned to respond to the needs of applicants and the nine local authorities as their net zero achievements progress.
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