“Well-designed places are robust, durable and easy to look after.”
– The National Design Guide
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“Well-designed places are robust, durable and easy to look after.”
– The National Design Guide
The circular economy is at the heart of our vision for design in Kent. Design for new developments will consider the whole lifespan of places, from initial scoping and construction through to demolition. We want to see carbon-neutral buildings and materials wherever possible; integrated renewable energy generation will provide long-term energy security. Design will anticipate future changes, with buildings and places made to be resilient and easily adaptable. You’re not building just for the first owner or user, but for all those who will live and work there in the future.
Take inspiration and lessons from Kent’s historic buildings and communities. From ancient market towns like Maidstone to formal military layouts such as Hythe, places across Kent demonstrate how buildings in forms and materials appropriate to their use and location weather well, and remain attractive and characterful for many years.
Your buildings and spaces should be easily cared for and maintained by their users, owners, landlords and public agencies. Materials will be both locally inspired and easy to source, making replacement and repair cost-effective and truly sustainable. You should consider the whole-life costs of your building materials from sourcing and construction, through operation to decommissioning or repurposing. A place’s overall sustainability is intrinsically linked to its management. Your design should allow for long-term stewardship by landowners, communities and local authorities from its earliest stages, in ways that help foster a sense of ownership and community.
Your design should be adaptable to users’ changing needs and evolving technologies. In the short- to medium term, this means incorporating digital connectivity, electric vehicles, automation, home working, smart batteries and services delivered remotely. Looking ahead, you should also ensure they can take advantage of emerging technologies, such as smart networks where homes share and store energy with the grid based on demand.
You need to consider both how your development works for people now, and how it can evolve to meet future needs and challenges. In particular, we want to see resilience to address the increased risks of flooding, heat waves and water shortages arising from climate change. High fabric standards and water and energy efficiency measures should either be installed from the outset or be easy to retrofit as required. Renewable energy generation should be the standard for all future buildings. We also want to see intelligent use of soil, water, vegetation and other natural elements to ensure longevity, alongside the wealth of other benefits these bring to people.
UK Green Building Council – Circular Economy Guidance for Construction Clients (April 2019)
This characteristic is particularly important for Resource Efficiency, Natural Capital, and Climate Resilience.
