GHA MANIFESTO

Homes Fit for the Future

A ‘Regenerative’ Vision

GHA MANIFESTO – 2020 EDITION

2020 was due to be a year of climate action but with the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting postponement of COP26, focus in the UK has shifted to one of survival. However, the Government’s emergency rescue packages will soon be re-shaped into recovery packages which will affect our long-term future.

Good Homes Alliance joins other industry groups in advocating a green recovery plan that recognises the importance of protecting public health whilst addressing climate change targets and ecosystem resilience: in particular to focus stimulus on mass energy efficiency retrofit and clean energy infrastructure, which generate both short and longer term economic multipliers.

GHA’s mission is primarily to improve newbuild homes, and the communities they are part of, to deliver net positive benefits – economic, social and environmental – and we are both excited by the Net Zero 2050 objective now enshrined in law, and disappointed by the recent less-than-ambitious consultation on the 2025 Future Homes Standard.

The Climate Change Committee’s 2019 reports, and recent letter to the Prime Minister, call for new homes that are fit for the future – low-carbon, energy- and water-efficient and climate resilient – and Good Homes Alliance have been promoting these targets for over a decade.

We represent a community who support the aim of Net Zero Emissions homes along with higher standards in comfort and health for occupants, who believe this is achievable now and at scale, and together we promote leadership and know-how for achieving this in practice and look to government to do likewise through public sector financial support for schemes that deliver on these targets.

In the light of this we restate the GHA ‘Mission’ underpinning work going forward:

Homes Fit for the Future: a ‘Regenerative’ vision

Homes that minimise operational energy demand and perform in use as intended
Homes and places that maximise renewable energy and energy management/storage
Homes that minimise whole life carbon in construction and materials selection
Healthy, adaptive homes with sufficient space and non-toxic materials
Attractive homes and places with materials and detailing for low and easy maintenance and which will stand the test of time
Homes and places that maximise biodiversity and ecological improvements
Homes and places that are resilient for future climate including minimising overheating, and providing growing and leisure opportunities in occupants’ access to private amenity space and shared green/open space

Good Homes Alliance continues to initiate and participate in research and the collection of case studies to support knowledge dissemination and skills to enable this vision to be realised, and to advocate for our membership higher standards in housing – in design and real-life performance – to realise the widest value for both investors and occupants.

Support our activities and join the Good Homes Alliance today.

Image credit: David Butler

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