New energy performance rules imminent for residential development
The Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for assessing the energy performance of residential units is being updated. SAP covers the energy cost rating of a dwelling and has not been updated for seven years. SAP10 has been issued but has not yet come into force, although its launch date is imminent and developers are being […]
New Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in force
Landlords are being urged to comply with updated regulations in relation to minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES). Since April this year, new rules apply to energy ratings which affect a landlord’s ability to agree a new letting or tenancy. They now have to contribute up to £3,500 per property towards raising the rating on a […]
Ski slopes the venue for networking with a difference
Representatives from Syntegra will join more than 450 colleagues from the world of property development at the annual PropSki event in Chamonix in January. The week long gathering includes network events to meet peers from the global built environment sector combined with the opportunity to enjoy time on the ski slopes and relaxing with informal […]
Calls to change climate policies and fossil fuel production to avoid catastrophe
The world’s existing climate policies will not be enough to end the upward trend of energy emissions rising beyond 2040 without a “grand coalition” of governments and investors, according to the global energy watchdog, the International Energy Agency (IEA). In its World Energy Outlook, the IEA said that carbon emissions from the global energy industry reached a […]
Government unveils new net-zero support for buildings and ‘every single mode of transport’
The UK Government has unveiled new measures to decarbonise buildings and all modes of transport to demonstrate commitment to reaching net-zero carbon by 2050. The report indicates that the UK Government has allocated £2bn to decarbonisation projects since the amendment to the 2008 Climate Change Act was ratified, with significant amounts of funding being allocated […]
Land promotion service launched
Syntegra has launched a new service for clients to help landowners maximise the profits on their land by taking over the entire planning process to attain planning approval and subsequent uplift in property/land value. Under the land promotion service, our team will part or fully fund the process and commit our experience and expertise in […]
DEFRA announces £2m of clean air funding for councils as Queen’s Speech focuses on tackling environmental concerns
Schemes to tackle air pollution have been given a boost with the opportunity for local authorities to bid for cash from a new £2 million Government fund as the Queen’s Speech focused on a series of environmental concerns to be addressed in ‘momentous’ legislation. The latest round of Air Quality Grant funding is available for […]
Millions join climate strike protest as leaders and businesses pledge to implement new measures to tackle global warming
Millions of people around the world held a global climate strike on Friday, inspired by Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg. Protesters took part in what is believed to be the biggest ever demonstration over global warming. “Our house is on fire”, Ms Thunberg said at a rally. “We will not just stand aside and watch.” […]
Syntegra’s Quick Guide to Green Office Measures
If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon” – the warning from the revered naturalist Sir David Attenborough as he declared climate change “our greatest threat in thousands of years”. His declaration, along with the Paris Agreement, an increasing number […]
Spending hike urged for environmental protection schemes
Environmental campaigners have called on the UK Government to more than double funding to fight climate change if further ecological breakdown is to be avoided in the future. They want more spending on decarbonising transport, the built environment and industry and wrote to the Chancellor, Sajid Javid, ahead of his Spending Review this week calling […]
National Infrastructure Strategy to drive sustainability
The UK’s first National Infrastructure Strategy is due to be published this autumn and Syntegra is keen to see what will be included to help support and improve sustainable development. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has published a series of topics members would like to see addressed when the Government unveils its recommendations. Syntegra […]
Building Project: New Country Park and Cemetery, Flitwick
Project Info Client: CDSL Completion Year: 2019 Ecological Appraisal and eDNA testing Location: Flitwick, Bedfordshire Our ecological services team oversaw the completion of a successful planning application to develop a cemetery and country park using environmental DNA to test for the presence of great crested newts.Syntegra roles undertaken included Preliminary Ecological Appraisal and eDNA testing […]
UK renewable energy target likely to be missed
While UK figures for renewable energy reached record levels last year, officials still believe the 2020 national renewable energy targets will be missed. Government figures show 33% of electricity produced in the UK in 2018 was renewable, new Government figures show, up 2.9% on 2017, driven by growth in oil, wind, solar, bioenergy, and waste. […]
Support for Global Climate Strike
Businesses are being urged to support and take part in a Global Climate Strike day of action on September 20th. Business leaders have been encouraged by the UKGBC’s Chief Executive, Julie Hirigoyen,to ‘activate [their] leadership’ and allow staff to join in the planned campaign to ensure the built environment industry is at the forefront of […]
Investment in sustainability becoming mainstream for UK businesses, report indicates
Significant numbers of UK businesses are planning to increase their environment-related investments over the next two years, a new report from HSBC indicates. Influenced by consumer-led demands for low-carbon sustainable ‘products and services, coupled with new green legislation, almost half of the 2,500 businesses surveyed said they would be allocating their investments in more sustainable […]
Government announces £80m fund to decarbonise aviation and road transport
The UK Government has unveiled a new £80m pot to fund electric car and plane projects to boost the country’s uptake of low-carbon transport solutions ahead of the 2050 net-zero deadline. The money will be used to help researchers and businesses develop and commercialise ‘the next generation’ of transport, said the Department for Business, Energy […]
IAQM broadens remit to include indoor air quality issues
The Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) has broadened its scope to cover issues related to indoor air quality. Increasing numbers of enquiries about indoor air quality concerns to the industry body whose agenda has historically been focused on improving ambient air quality prompted a membership survey about the change of remit. Until now, there […]
Developer guides launched
Syntegra has published the first in its series of Developers’ Guides for potential clients to refer to when considering working on joint projects with the company. The Impact of Ecology on Planning and Development has been drawn up to advise developers of the initial site considerations they need to address when planning a project. The […]
Building Project: Syntegra project scoops National RIBA Award
Project Info Client: Groupwork Completion Year: 2018 M&E designers Sustainability consultants Floor Area:545m2 Location: Islington, London A project Syntegra Group worked on in several roles has won a prestigious national award. The conversion scheme at 168 Upper Street, Islington, London, saw the development of three apartments and a shop from a Victorian commercial landmark. The […]
Syntegra project scoops National RIBA 2019 award
168 Upper Street, Islington, London A project Syntegra Group worked on in several roles has won a prestigious national award. The conversion scheme at 168 Upper Street, Islington, London, saw the development of three apartments and a shop from a Victorian commercial landmark. The rebuild, overseen by Groupwork, won the RIBA 2019 London Award and […]
UK’s offshore wind sector boosted by £100m programme
A new £100m programme has been launched to boost the growth of the UK’s offshore wind sector which will, in turn, benefit businesses. The 10-year initiative, the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP), has been unveiled by the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) to support more than 650 businesses boost the value and growth of the […]
UK to use more electricity from renewables than coal for first time in 2019
The UK’s electricity system will distribute more power from renewable sources than coal-fired power stations for the first time this year, new figures indicate. The National Grid revealed that 47.9% of electricity generated between January and May this year came from clean energy sources – solar, wind, hydro and nuclear, while 46.7% came from coal […]
Carbon neutral deadline revised by UK Government
The UK has increased its commitment to reduce carbon usage by 80% by 2050 to a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. This is expected to be achieved by adopting Hydrogen as an alternative to gas, and using renewable sources for electricity generation, with a greater utilisation of GSHP and Air Source heat pumps. […]
Hedgerows warning over biodiversity threat
Landowners have been warned of the threat to biodiversity by mismanaging their hedgerows. Syntegra’s Director of Ecology Services Trish Holden called for rotational cutting of hedgerows and tree lines outside of the bird nesting season to help protect valuable wildlife. She said: ‘Most landowners don’t realise how important hedgerows and tree lines are for bats […]
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