Council forum generates discussion on Wokingham sustainability
Sustainable development was top of the agenda at Wokingham Borough Council’s first-ever business forum specifically for developers. And feedback was so positive that follow-up events are already being planned.
More than 40 Wokingham developers attended the Millgate Homes-sponsored forum, kindly hosted by PRUPIM at GreenPark, last week (Wednesday June 20) to learn about the future direction of government planning legislation, as well as the council’s own planning policies in relation to sustainable developments.
Developers learnt about the potential for new Wokingham building to be energy efficient from Thames Valley Energy’s Ian Bacon. Ian also spoke about the possibilities of renewable energy sources such as solar panels, small-scale wind turbines, wood-chip heating systems and ground source heat pumps.
Richard Green of GDG Housing discussed best practice at the developments they have completed using sustainable methods in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Heather Thwaites, the council’s corporate head of planning, regulation and enforcement, spoke on the council’s current planning policy and its future direction as it takes into account the need for developments to be more energy conscious and sustainable in the way they are built and stressed the need for developers to engage with the council and help in the planning regulation setting process around sustainable development.
The Wokingham morning was rounded off with a visit to PRUPIM’s wind turbine visitor centre at GreenPark, guided by the council’s energy efficiency officer and PRUPIM’s turbine tour guide Ian Gough. The turbine delivers electricity to over 1,000 homes and prevents approximately 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being produced each year.
More than 40 Wokingham developers attended the Millgate Homes-sponsored forum, kindly hosted by PRUPIM at GreenPark, last week (Wednesday June 20) to learn about the future direction of government planning legislation, as well as the council’s own planning policies in relation to sustainable developments.
Developers learnt about the potential for new Wokingham building to be energy efficient from Thames Valley Energy’s Ian Bacon. Ian also spoke about the possibilities of renewable energy sources such as solar panels, small-scale wind turbines, wood-chip heating systems and ground source heat pumps.
Richard Green of GDG Housing discussed best practice at the developments they have completed using sustainable methods in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Heather Thwaites, the council’s corporate head of planning, regulation and enforcement, spoke on the council’s current planning policy and its future direction as it takes into account the need for developments to be more energy conscious and sustainable in the way they are built and stressed the need for developers to engage with the council and help in the planning regulation setting process around sustainable development.
The Wokingham morning was rounded off with a visit to PRUPIM’s wind turbine visitor centre at GreenPark, guided by the council’s energy efficiency officer and PRUPIM’s turbine tour guide Ian Gough. The turbine delivers electricity to over 1,000 homes and prevents approximately 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being produced each year.
Wokingham Borough Council
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