The fact that the government is committed to sustainable housing and to the development of millions of affordable homes is a well publicised fact, much used politically and warmly welcomed by the UK construction industry overall.
The strings to which the glazing industry is becoming acclimatised to, in the form of WER’s, are already being forced through for social and political reasons as the government rolls out its commitment to a sustainable future and lower CO2 emissions. There are other strings too which have been developing in the background and have a somewhat more tangible social and political context. Make no mistake, the very significant effect on the window and door industry will soon be apparent.
Secured By Design
An initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers, SBD has been increasing its influence for several years. Initially a two page reference guide for house builders it has become an all encompassing design brief of some 37 pages which designs crime reducing products into buildings and site layout.
The initiative works. Secured By Design developments are proven to reduce crime and now The Department for Communities and Local Government (Home Office) is firmly backing the initiative. In the words of a senior designer at a major national house builder “Since April 2009 everything has changed – Secured By Design has got teeth!”
As another developer put it “The future for planning permission for social and private new build developments will increasingly be dependant on SBD compliance” – the implications of this should not be underestimated.
This is hardly surprising given the success of the initiative, the credibility of its owners, and the increasing motivation of government. House builders, developers and progressive window and door manufacturers and installers should have nothing to fear from the accelerating change in planning restrictions but should be making plans to manufacture and source properly accredited products as soon and as competitively as possible.
Guest post by Ian Longbottom of Sliders UK
