Lockdown has given me the opportunity to explore on foot some of the newest house building in Spalding.
Some areas have nice play areas, wide pavements, attractive planting, little quiet areas, linking walkways, neat signing – all as one would expect. But, to me, several things seemed missing. There was a significant lack of planting of mature trees; very few cycle routes; many houses have no garages but I saw no provision of secure bicycle sheds at every house; solar panels were not on every home – they should be!
It was not obvious how homes were heated, but I saw little evidence of air or ground source heat pumps.
I saw no provision for the storage of rain water.
These aren’t new ideas and in the near future, some or all, will be a government requirement.
The planning authority is a powerful body. So unless these basic environmental and cost saving long term measures are all part of a developer’s plans, their application should not even be considered.
All too expensive? That’s nonsense and certainly should not be added to the house price but required from the developer.
Labour is the highest cost and it takes no more labour to fit the best for the purchaser and the environment.
Raise your game planners.
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