Local authorities and the NHS could be forced to provide land for allotments under a new government initiative launched today.
Government departments Communities and Local Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have said they want to encourage public sector bodies to provide unused land for allotments. It said it planned to set up a community land bank to act as a broker between landowners and those who want land to grow food.
The government is due to work with the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens on …

Local authorities should work more closely with energy companies to deliver greener housing, according to a government strategy published today.
Warmer Homes, Greener Homes sets out the government’s intention to build on the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT), which legally obliges energy companies to help homeowners improve their homes, but is due to end in 2012.
The strategy, published by the Department for Energy & Climate Change, proposes a bigger role for local authorities, including a requirement on energy companies to consult with councils before targeting specific homes for energy reductions.
It says …

The government’s draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on energy is a failure for not spelling where infrastructure should be built or when, according to the Royal Town Planning Institute.
The professional body that represents 22,000 planners in the UK  issued a highly critical response to the government’s consultation on the draft NPS, which  closed on Monday.
The draft proposals, were subject to a 15 week consultation, will determine how proposals to build new energy facilities are decided upon by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission.
Matt Thomson, acting director of policy & partnerships at …

Government proposals to phase out energy intensive property could slash the value of 10% of UK’s commercial property, according to research by property consultant NB Real Estate.
The government supports a proposal by its climate change committee to stop property owners from selling or letting buildings that have the lowest EPC rating – a G rating.
NB Real Estate predicts that up to 10% of commercial properties have a G rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), the lowest rating, which means they would be rendered obsolete by 2020 when the policy is implemented. …

The Carbon Trust has awarded Defence Estates the Carbon Trust Standard for its efforts towards managing its carbon footprint.
Defence Estates was given the award for its progress towards its target of reducing carbon emissions from its estate by 30% by 2020.
Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, chief executive of Defence Estates, said: “We are proud to be among the first 240 organisations to have received this standard in recognition of our work to monitor and manage our energy consumption. This is a significant achievement which emphasises our position as a lead in …

Public sector buildings should connect to community energy networks as soon as they can to promote sustainability, two green groups will report today.
This afternoon, the UK Green Building Council and the Zero Carbon Hub are set to launch their eight-page report Sustainable Community Infrastructure on how to promote the uptake of sustainable energy networks. It said public sector buildings should lead the way and join these networks, where available, as soon as they can.
UK GBC and the Zero Carbon Hub also said the government should set up an Office for …

Southampton City Council has connected a city centre housing scheme into its district energy network, the UK’s largest.
This morning, the council held an event to celebrate connecting City Centre Gantry, a residential scheme with 115 affordable housing flats next to the council’s main office (pictured) into its energy network.
The flat development is being developed by Atlantic Housing – part of the First Wessex Group – and Drew Smith Limited.
The energy scheme is being developed in partnership between the council and Utilicom. The council says the energy network saves the city …

Property investors Blackstone Group and Prupim have joined a London Development Agency partnership to cut energy waste from commercial properties in London.

Today, the Better Buildings Partnership announced its two new supporters at its annual brunch at City Hall in London. BBP is one of the LDA’s climate change programmes that aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2025. The target was set by London mayor Boris Johnson (pictured).
The LDA launched the BBP in 2007 alongside a sister initiative the Green 500, which aims to attract 500 organisations …

Winchester’s Ashburton Court was once the laughing stock of Hampshire County Council’s property estate.
The 1960s concrete structure, used as a central HQ, was loathed by staff and emitted CO2 levels way above the legal threshold.
The council, which takes pride in its built environment, had planned to knock it down and start again.
Then Bennetts Associates suggested a sustainable refurbishment of Ashburton: they would join it with Elizabeth II Court next door and create an HQ complex instead.
Name
Elizabeth II Court, Winchester
Client
Hampshire County Council
Partners
Bennetts Associates, Mace Group, Davis Langdon, …

By David Goatman, head of sustainability at Knight Frank
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If you work for a local authority then you will be affected by the Carbon Reduction Commitment, the UK emissions trading scheme that comes into force on 1 April 2010.
Here are five tips for you to focus on:
1) Learn what CRC is
If you are a local authority or a central government department, you will be in the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
This is a compulsory carbon emission cap and trade scheme for all organisations using over 6,000MWh of electricity per year. You will …