About
Building Futures is an evolving web-based guide, designed to provide practical, user-friendly and up to date guidance for planning officers, developers and the general public on how to make development in Hertfordshire more sustainable and of a higher quality in design terms.
The intention of the eleven local authorities of Hertfordshire has been to create a guide which is relevant to the Hertfordshire context, rather than metropolitan locations, which most central government guidance tends to focus on.
It is an important document for everyone involved in the preparation of development proposals, for local authorities and other agencies in assessing those proposals and for individuals with an interest in development in the county. The guide has been developed in alignment with existing policies, environmental initiatives and assessment procedures.
To date the guide contains ten modules, each covering a sustainable building topic area. These are:
- Air
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Design
- Energy & Climate Change
- Landscape & Biodiversity
- Materials
- Noise
- Safety
- Waste
- Water
Although each module addresses a particular topic, they should not be read independently of one another. All topic areas interrelate and a holistic approach is needed to achieve sustainable design and construction of new development.
Modules were recently updated to reflect emerging policy requirements, legislative changes and current of best practice. .
We always welcome feedback on our modules. If you have any comments please email them to buildingfutures@hertscc.gov.uk.