Latest news with #AdrianBirch
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Britain should adopt the Passivhaus standard to cut energy costs in new homes
Regarding your article (Poor building standards add £1,000 to energy bills of new homes, analysis finds, 16 May), the solution is very simple: the government should adopt the Passivhaus standard that has been established in Germany for over 25 years. Its use there results in buildings with little or no heating requirements as the buildings are super-insulated and extremely airtight, and have mechanical ventilation and heat reclaim systems to distribute filtered air throughout the property. This can obviate the need for solar panels and heat pumps, which have a lifespan of around 25 years. However, housebuilders in the UK do not yet have the desire to build houses this way as it requires site staff be motivated to build in a way that prevents air leakage and to care about build quality, something that is sorely lacking here. The higher build cost for the fabric would be offset by the absence or reduction in the cost of heating installation. We have yet to see how the future homes standard will compare, but I for one am not holding my BirchBrockweir, Gloucestershire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AI could help decide where to build 5,400 homes
Artificial intelligence is being trialled as a tool to help district councillors decide where to build 5,400 homes by 2041. Forest of Dean district councillors are under pressure from the government to deliver 597 homes a year, a number that was increased in summer 2024 from 330 a year. Council leader Adrian Birch said the authority had tasked an AI company with a research project to first see if the technology could be relied upon. He said he wanted to speed up decision processes, telling a council meeting: "If we can trust the AI to get it right then we will look at whether that is a feasible option." More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire The district council, under its plan for 2021 to 2041, had already been planning to build 6,600 homes when the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stepped in last year with new targets that it made mandatory. The demands meant that the council had to build an extra 5,400 homes – 12,000 in total by 2041. Locations for many of the 6,600 homes have already been mapped out, mainly in Lydney, Beachley and Newent. The search for locations for the extra 5,400 properties means old ideas have been revived, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. These include creating a garden town between the A40 and A48 near Churcham and a new settlement off junction 2 of the M50 near Redmarley. Mr Birch told councillors: "We are trialling some AI support on this which will see if it provides the information we need." He said the AI company had been asked to assess public responses to the council's local plan consultation last summer. "We will then be comparing our results with their results," he said. He said the use of AI would be reviewed if there were any doubts. The council voted unanimously to review its 2021 to 2041 local plan and explore alternative strategic options for housing. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Gloucestershire could be AI 'centre of excellence' Council looks for potential housing sites Decision delayed on plans for 140 homes in town Forest of Dean District Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AI could help decide where to build 5,400 homes
Artificial intelligence is being trialled as a tool to help district councillors decide where to build 5,400 homes by 2041. Forest of Dean district councillors are under pressure from the government to deliver 597 homes a year, a number that was increased in summer 2024 from 330 a year. Council leader Adrian Birch said the authority had tasked an AI company with a research project to first see if the technology could be relied upon. He said he wanted to speed up decision processes, telling a council meeting: "If we can trust the AI to get it right then we will look at whether that is a feasible option." More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire The district council, under its plan for 2021 to 2041, had already been planning to build 6,600 homes when the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stepped in last year with new targets that it made mandatory. The demands meant that the council had to build an extra 5,400 homes – 12,000 in total by 2041. Locations for many of the 6,600 homes have already been mapped out, mainly in Lydney, Beachley and Newent. The search for locations for the extra 5,400 properties means old ideas have been revived, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. These include creating a garden town between the A40 and A48 near Churcham and a new settlement off junction 2 of the M50 near Redmarley. Mr Birch told councillors: "We are trialling some AI support on this which will see if it provides the information we need." He said the AI company had been asked to assess public responses to the council's local plan consultation last summer. "We will then be comparing our results with their results," he said. He said the use of AI would be reviewed if there were any doubts. The council voted unanimously to review its 2021 to 2041 local plan and explore alternative strategic options for housing. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Gloucestershire could be AI 'centre of excellence' Council looks for potential housing sites Decision delayed on plans for 140 homes in town Forest of Dean District Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council criticised for spending £50k on ecologist
The former leader of a council has criticised the authority's decision to spend £50,000 on hiring an ecologist "responsible for the ocean". Forest of Dean District Council plans to recruit an "oceans officer", with the Green leadership saying the post will help protect the "precious" environment in the Severn and Wye rivers. But former council leader, Tim Gwilliam, who represents the Progressive Independent party, has criticised the decision to spend money on something he does not believe to be the council's responsibility. Current leader, Adrian Birch, said the plans had been progressed correctly with "clear support" from the council. The council approved its budget in February, which included an agreement to allocate £50,000 for an ecologist to help deliver the council's rivers and oceans motion, to tackle pollution. "I'm sure Foresters in their ocean-fronted homes in Bream and Bicknor will be well pleased," said Gwilliam. "I noted with some irony that the cabinet member said when asked about possibly funding libraries or road improvements that were not Forest of Dean District Council responsibility at the very same time he and his cabinet were committing to spend tens of thousands of pounds on an oceans officer," he added. The Severn is identified as the worst river in England for sewage pollution, jeopardising ecological, economic, and recreational activity and human health, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Green councillors said the rivers are being polluted by farm and sewage run-off, affecting salmon and eel populations. They also raised the issue of plastic polluting the ocean. Birch said questions over the role had been repeatedly answered. "There is clearly more we can do to work alongside others to protect our precious river environment, but we cannot do this without the necessary additional resource," he said. "We will now be progressing this important work and recruiting to this post. We sincerely hope that all elected members will now get behind us and support this initiative." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Gloucestershire faces decision on 'super council' Thousands to see council tax go up in Gloucestershire New role to help bring life back into market towns Talks underway to decide if county should split in two Fly-tipping fines more than double in new measures Forest of Dean District Council
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council looks for potential housing sites
A council has asked landowners and developers to suggest sites they think could be used for housing and other developments. Forest of Dean District Council says it wants to hear suggestions as part of its annual Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA). The assessment, which is required by the government, helps pinpoint potential land for all types of housing, including for travellers. Submissions must be completed by 31 March. Council leader Adrian Birch said: "If you have land that you believe could potentially be developed in the future, either for housing or business purposes, this is your chance to submit it for consideration. "By submitting your site for potential development, it does not necessarily mean that development will happen, but it is an important first step that puts it in front of the right people for consideration. "Following this process gives us a real opportunity to think differently to achieve the sustainable development we need in the district and working together with landowners, we can aim for development that benefits and complements Forest of Dean communities and businesses." The land suggestions will be available for the public to view in an online database. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Decision delayed on plans for 140 homes in town Higher tax rates for empty houses and second homes Forest of Dean District Council
