Click the following links to view another country's documents or to view the archive
Asset management England/Wales
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Decent Homes
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Procurement
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Property maintenance
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Performance measurement, management and improvement
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Service providers (DLO and contractor information)
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Sustainable development
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Fuel poverty
Decent Homes
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Decent Homes - the National Audit Office verdict
25 February 2010Network briefing by Neil Merrick
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Minister launches full assessments of the Decent Homes programme
10 December 2009Housing Minister John Healey has announced a full scale assessment of the government's drive to improve England's social housing stock
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What does excellence look like? Asset management and major works
3 November 2009Network briefing by John Wheeldon
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Low Carbon Communities Challenge
30 September 2009Two-year programme, funded by Department of Energy and Climate Change, to provide financial and advisory support to 20 communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are seeking to cut carbon emissions. Scheme includes capital infrastructure funding to stimulate community investment, free advice and support, a common framework to share learning. Interested applicants should register by 28 October
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HCA announces results of SHESP bids
30 July 2009Forty six councils, housing associations and ALMOs have, between them, successfully bid for £84m worth of funding, over two years, from the Social Housing Energy Saving Programme to provide cavity wall insulation in difficult-to-fill homes
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Decent Homes - the next steps?
18 June 2009Network briefing by Sheila Camp looks at the aims of the report; 'Towards a successor standard to Decent Homes', the key areas for a new standard, areas to be excluded/tackled locally and the next steps
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Fuel poverty
24 February 2009Network briefing by Maria Wardrobe explores the issues surrounding fuel poverty
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Social housing watchdog welcomes energy saving proposals to cut bills
19 February 2009The Tenant Services Authority has welcomed the government's proposals to increase energy efficiency and low carbon heat technologies in every home, which would see lower energy bills for social housing tenants
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Decent Homes in the Social Sector - Statistics Reconciliation Project 2008
14 January 2009This CLG report summarises the results of a project to explore the discrepancies in non-decent social sector dwelling estimates reported in a national survey and local statistical returns
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National Register of Social Housing Bulletin: Spring 2008
26 August 2008Communities and Local Government newsletter about the National Register of Social Housing (NROSH) which collects social housing data at individual property level directly from the housing management systems of local authorities and housing associations
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Cracking the Code
22 May 2008The Code for Sustainable Homes is a new tool to assess the environmental performance of new-build homes
Procurement
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Roots Review: Review of arrangements for efficiencies from smarter procurement in local government
19 February 2009Independent report which highlights that substantial actions are underway by the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) and others to enhance procurement efficiency. But more can be done. It sets out practical recommendations that can be acted on by relevant organisations, such as the RIEPs
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Effective procurement/VfM/contract arrangements
4 November 2008Network briefing by Rob McNaughton looks at joint procurement, whole life costing, partnering and other common issues
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Best Value and Procurement: Workforce Matters in Best Value Authority Contracting: Statutory Guidance - Draft for Consultation
29 October 2008This consultation paper seeks views on updating and re-issuing existing guidance which sets out how staff who work on best value authority contracts are treated. Consultation closing date is 19 January 2009
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Hand drill or PDA? A compendium of tools for managing value for money
5 August 2008Network briefing by Dylan Chipp has brought together the various measures and checklists that HQN has produced to assist asset management practitioners who are seeking to develop, embed and review their approach to VfM
Additional files:
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Construction companies – Office of Fair Trading announcement and guidance
28 April 2008The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) announced that it has issued a Statement of Objections to 112 companies alleged to have engaged in bid-rigging activities, particularly cover pricing, in the construction sector. This OFT guidance note will be of interest to all housing associations in relation to their procurement of construction, repairs and maintenance and other related services
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OFT Statement of Objections against 112 construction firms in England for bid rigging activities
18 April 2008The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on 17 April issued a Statement of Objections against 112 construction firms in England for bid rigging activities
The OFT has also issued an information note for local authorities and other procuring entities
Property maintenance
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New green strategy will overhaul Britain's homes
4 March 2010A green transformation of Britain's homes will take place over the next decade
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Clarifying when an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required on the sale or letting of buildings
2 March 2010Impact assessment
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Proposals for requiring Energy Performance Certificate ratings to be displayed on all property advertisements
2 March 2010Impact assessment
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Requiring Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
2 March 2010Impact assessment
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New deal on energy efficiency to help social housing tenants
2 March 2010The government’s Warm Homes, Greener Homes Strategy will help social housing landlords halve the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from the homes they own, according to the TSA
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Making better use of Energy Performance Certificates and data
2 March 2010Consultation closes 25 May 2010
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Meeting the challenge of climate change will establish a new era in local government
26 November 2009Strong leadership, clear vision and ambition from councils could deliver reductions in carbon emissions of millions of tonnes annually and potentially unlock £1 billion in income for councils, according to Communities Secretary John Denham
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Energy efficiency of existing non-domestic buildings
25 November 2009Where are we, and where do we want to be? Speech by Lord Bill McKenzie of Luton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
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What does excellence look like? Asset management and major works
3 November 2009Network briefing by John Wheeldon
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Home Inspector Certification Schemes
23 October 2009Certification Schemes are responsible for ensuring that Home Inspectors are 'fit and proper' persons, who are properly qualified and insured to produce Home Condition Reports (HCRs)
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Residents and businesses help shape the Thames Gateway eco-quarter
16 October 2009New technologies and initiatives for homes and businesses in the Thames Gateway to tackle climate change will be tried out in the country's first eco-quarter, Thames Gateway Minister Shahid Malik has announced
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English House Condition Survey - 2007 Annual Report
29 September 2009The report presents detailed findings from the 2007 survey on the housing conditions and energy performance of the stock
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Understanding permeable and impermeable surfaces
15 September 2009Technical report on surfacing options and cost benefit analysis
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Further advice on fire risk assessments
21 August 2009From Clare Miller, Executive Director - Risk and Assurance
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What does excellence look like? Gas servicing
18 August 2009Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008. This briefing covers gas servicing
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£84m for greener homes and cheaper energy bills
4 August 2009The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has announced that 46 areas of the country will share a fund of up to £84m to help insulate social homes – reducing fuel bills for tenants and cutting carbon emissions
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HCA unveils cavity wall insulation funding
14 May 2009The HCA has published on-line guidance of how social landlords - RSLs, ALMOs and local authorities - can bid for part of the additional £84m housing funding package announced in April’s 2009 budget for cavity wall insulation
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Right to enfranchise (RTE) provisions: a consultation
12 May 2009This CLG consultation paper sets out the issues that have arisen in relation to the implementation of the Right to Enfranchise (RTE) provisions in the 2002 Act. Its aim is to seek views on the options that have been identified for how these could be dealt with and the proposal for the non-implementation and repeal of these provisions. Consultation closes 3 August 2009
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Efficiency in asset management
28 April 2009Network briefing by Rob McNaughton looks at how organisations can achieve efficiency when dealing with existing housing stock
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Housing associations to note change to the gas safety law
21 April 2009The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) has asked housing associations to note a major change in gas safety, which came into effect on 1 April 2009
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EU approves 5% VAT on home improvements
12 March 2009Lifeline for builders as UK given option to reduce VAT on maintenance and repairs
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The Green Changing Rooms: Retrofitting the existing housing stock
5 March 2009Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing and Planning
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The Future Home Improvement Agency - Handyperson services report
3 March 2009This is a report on handyperson services, including benefits, steps in setting up services and key issues for service providers
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Minor repairs and adaptations ‘handyperson’ funding for 2009/10 and 2010/11
3 March 2009Letter to local authority chief executives informing them of the availability of Minor Repair and Adaptation 'handyperson' grant allocations for 2009/10 and 2010/11
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The Quiet Revolution: Retro-fitting the Housing Stock
13 February 2009Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing and Planning
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Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) consultation
13 February 2009Government consultation on proposals for the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). Consultation closing date 8 May 2009
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Heat and Energy Saving Strategy consultation
13 February 2009CLG has launched the Heat and Energy Saving Strategy to seek views on its longer-term ambitions for how we can transform the way we use heat and energy in our homes and businesses when it comes to heat and energy efficiency. Consultation closing date 8 May 2009
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TSA’s corporate plan puts tenants first and outlines financial viability twin-track plan
29 January 2009Economic and housing market conditions will pose a significant challenge to providers of social housing in the coming months, and they will need to 'be viable and well governed and improve constantly', according to the Tenant Services Authority
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English House Condition Survey - 2006 Annual Report
26 November 2008CLG report which was based on a random achieved sample of 16,670 dwellings comprising a detailed non-intrusive physical inspection of the dwelling (including an assessment to its environment), and an interview with the householder
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Energy performance certificates: the new requirements
20 November 2008Network briefing by Janis Bright which considers the new requirements and some of the issues arising from a pilot of EPCs carried out by social landlords last year
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Tackling fuel poverty
14 October 2008Network briefing by Chris Bowen, explores amongst other things, the extent of fuel poverty, government targets and what a housing organisation can do to help reduce fuel poverty
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Research to assess the cost and benefits of the government's proposals to reduce the carbon footprint of new housing development
9 September 2008CLG research, which provides an analysis of the costs and benefits of the proposed policy options for all new homes being zero carbon from 2016
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Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and renting homes: A landlord's guide
8 September 2008This booklet gives advice to landlords on Energy Performance Certificates which will be required if renting to a new tenant from 1 October 2008
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A guide to generating Energy Performance Certificates for similar dwellings owned by the same landlord
31 July 2008The guidance is intended to help landlords
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Eight million free energy-efficient light bulbs to be sent to two million housing association households
8 July 2008The biggest free energy-efficiency initiative ever launched for the social housing sector was kicked off today with Housing Corporation Chief Executive Steve Douglas encouraging housing association chiefs to take up a new scheme aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of over two million households
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Environmental retrofit manual to tackle household CO2 emissions launched
11 June 2008Housing Minister Iain Wright has launched a guide to tackling environmental emissions currently generated by households. He also announced that 8m Osram energy efficient light bulbs would be given out to housing association households over a 12-month period beginning in September 2008
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Crackdown on cowboys to benefit home owners, local authorities and the building industry
19 March 2008The building industry, local authorities and home owners will all benefit from a shake-up to the building control system proposed by Housing Minister Caroline Flint which cracks down on illegal construction
Performance measurement, management and improvement
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Lifetime Neighbourhoods: turning vision into reality
25 February 2010Speech by Lord Bill McKenzie, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
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What does excellence look like? Asset management and major works
3 November 2009Network briefing by John Wheeldon
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Risks of infection at work
14 July 2009Complimentary SAFETYnet briefing, by Morag Brown, which covers a very topical issue, taking a look at 'risks from infections' giving you some things to think about, along with links for you to find more information if you require
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Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide - May 2009 Version 2
3 July 2009This technical guidance sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible
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Room for improvement: a review of strategic asset management
22 June 2009This report follows up on the Audit Commission report Hot Property (2000), and reveals that councils have made only modest progress in improving the management of their estate - worth an estimated £250 billion in 2008 - over the last ten years. The report also finds central government partly to blame, by sending local government mixed messages: calling on councils to rationalise assets, to improve buildings and offices, and to share assets with the community
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Efficiency in asset management
28 April 2009Network briefing by Rob McNaughton looks at how organisations can achieve efficiency when dealing with existing housing stock
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The National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan
16 March 2009This plan aims to reduce Wales’ greenhouse gas emissions by making all parts of Welsh society more energy efficient. This means helping people to save energy and cut costs at home, working with communities, and supporting the public sector and business to become more energy efficient
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TSA calls for housing associations to examine stock to improve services to tenants
27 February 2009Housing associations that streamline the ownership and management arrangements of their homes can improve services to tenants, according to the Tenants Services Authority (TSA)
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Health and safety journey to excellence
4 February 2009An exclusive narrated PowerPoint presentation by SAFETYnet member Jas Sidhu, Head of Property Services at Mercian Housing Association. Jas sets out Mercian’s five-step journey toward health and safety excellence. Originally presented at the SAFETYnet Stay out of jail event in Solihull on 28 January 2009, Jas recreates this inspirational story of leadership and engagement through his narration of Mercian’s journey. For more information about SAFETYnet contact at safetynet@hqnetwork.co.uk
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Managing Risks in Asset Transfer: A Guide
9 July 2008CLG guide which has been designed to give practical advice from the experiences of both local government and the third sector in how to manage risk and shows where it has worked well in practice
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FRS Circular 15/2008 - A Framework for Local Authority Asset Management
2 May 2008Guidance has been produced by CLG to assist in the more effective use of asset base as a foundation for delivering high performing public services. As part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, each Government department is developing an asset management strategy. As part of that process CLG were asked to produce an asset management strategy for local government
Service providers (DLO and contractor information)
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Partnering and open-book – till dispute do us part?
17 November 2008TEAMnet briefing by Wayne Hughes and Rob McNaughton, made available here to Network members, explores the benefits and pitfalls of partnering
Sustainable development
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The Code for Sustainable Homes: Case Studies Volume 2 - March 2010
2 March 2010CLG publication
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The Code for Sustainable Homes: Case Studies
2 March 2010CLG publication
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Progress towards the sustainability of the building stock in England and Wales
11 February 2010Second parliamentary report: Section 6 of The Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004
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Code for Sustainable Homes
22 December 2009Impact assessment - December 2009
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Code for Sustainable Homes technical guide
22 December 2009This consultation version of the technical guide is part of the Sustainable New Homes: The Road to Zero Carbon: Consultation on the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Energy Efficiency standard for Zero Carbon Homes publication. The consultation closes on 24 March 2010
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Package for planners on 100th birthday of Planning Act
3 December 2009Housing Minister John Healey has announced support for councils to plan and deliver new homes and green energy projects to power the country to a low carbon future
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Second wave of eco-towns
3 December 2009Housing Minister John Healey has announced proposals for a second wave of world leading eco-towns and pledged to double the money to a total of £10m to support councils in developing their plans
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New powers key to meeting housing needs of Wales
30 November 2009The proposed Sustainable Homes Legislative Competence Order (LCO)
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Community Land Trusts and affordable housing
22 October 2009Network briefing by Vanessa Morton
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Residents and businesses help shape the Thames Gateway eco-quarter
16 October 2009New technologies and initiatives for homes and businesses in the Thames Gateway to tackle climate change will be tried out in the country's first eco-quarter, Thames Gateway Minister Shahid Malik has announced
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Merseyside to become biggest UK low carbon economy
17 September 2009Liverpool City-Region Councils have gained further freedoms and powers to work together to create jobs by transforming the tourism and low carbon economy in the region, announced Housing and Planning Minister John Healey
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£84m for greener homes and cheaper energy bills
4 August 2009The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has announced that 46 areas of the country will share a fund of up to £84m to help insulate social homes – reducing fuel bills for tenants and cutting carbon emissions
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The Next Steps: EPCS and the establishment of the Green Homes Service: Consultation
21 July 2009Summary of responses
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Ian Austin: Celebrating the best in housing design
17 July 2009Housing Minister Ian Austin has congratulated the innovative projects recognised at this year's Housing Design Awards for delivering high quality homes to high environmental standards
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John Healey: Action to help developers during downturn and build greener buildings
19 June 2009Developers will be given more time to start building and further flexibility to adapt plans, under a package of new measures announced by Housing Minister John Healey to support the industry during these tough economic times
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Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide - May 2009
14 May 2009On 13 December 2006, the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes was launched. This technical guidance sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible
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Demonstrating sustainability of housing organisations
14 April 2009Network briefing by Richard Lupo describes the benefit of demonstrating sustainability for a social housing provider
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The Hallmarks of a Sustainable City
19 March 2009Speech by The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
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Sustainable Communities Act 2007: Local Spending Reports - Consultation Document
24 February 2009The purpose of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 is to promote the sustainability of local communities. It provides a channel for local communities and local authorities to ask central government to take action which they believe would improve the economic, social or environmental well-being of their area. Consultation closes 15 May 2009
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Social housing watchdog welcomes energy saving proposals to cut bills
19 February 2009The Tenant Services Authority has welcomed the government's proposals to increase energy efficiency and low carbon heat technologies in every home, which would see lower energy bills for social housing tenants
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Sustainable maintenance in existing homes
2 January 2009Network briefing by Richard Lupo explains not only how to maintain the existing stock but how to take the opportunity, during maintenance activities, to improve the environmental performance
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Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and Non-Domestic Buildings: Consultation
17 December 2008Building a Greener Future: Policy Statement (2007) announced that all new homes will be zero carbon from 2016, and said that CLG would consult again on the detailed definition. Budget 2008 announced the government's ambition that all new non-domestic buildings should be zero carbon from 2019. This consultation proposes a definition of zero carbon new homes, based on high energy efficiency, on- or near-site carbon reduction, and allowable solutions for dealing with the remaining emissions. Consultation closes 18.3.09
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Metropolitan Housing Partnership and sustainability
2 December 2008This Network case study by Matthew Bush summarises what they have achieved so far and where they are heading
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Before the well runs dry: sustainable building to save water
14 November 2008Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing
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New climate change duty and parliamentary scrutiny to strengthen Planning Bill
6 November 2008New amendments to the government's Planning Bill have been laid in Parliament to strengthen the scrutiny of national policy statements by the House of Lords, and tackle climate change
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Public consultation opens on toughest ever green standards for eco-towns
4 November 2008Local communities will get their next chance to have their say on the eco-town proposals as Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has now launched the government's second round of formal consultation on the proposed locations and standards for eco-towns
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Eco-towns: Living a greener future - Summary of consultation responses
4 November 2008The Eco-towns: Living a greener future consultation ran from 3 April 2008 to 30 June 2008 and sought the public's views on the vision for eco-towns and the shortlisted locations proposed
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Eco-towns: Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Eco-towns Programme: Introduction
4 November 2008Introduction to the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of the eco-towns Programme, including an overview of the process and methodology, the initial scrutiny of bids received, and an outline of likely significant effects as part of the HRA
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Tackling the green agenda
21 October 2008Network briefing by Richard Lupo outlines the main initiatives taken in the UK and what they mean for building practice with a particular reference to social housing providers
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Secretary of State's formal invitation to Local Authorities to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007
16 October 2008This is the first formal invitation to local authorities to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. Councils have until 31 July 2009 to submit their proposals to the selector (the LGA)
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Tenants home in on bills
1 October 2008New research shows that 79 per cent of renters are worried about the cost of their household bills
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Evaluation of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) pilot for social housing: Final Summary Report
1 October 2008This publication evaluates the pilot scheme developed to support the roll-out of Energy Performance Certificates to rented properties, in particular social housing
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Research to assess the cost and benefits of the government's proposals to reduce the carbon footprint of new housing development
9 September 2008CLG research, which provides an analysis of the costs and benefits of the proposed policy options for all new homes being zero carbon from 2016
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Consultation on PPS4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Development - Summary of key issues and analysis of consultation responses
13 August 2008In December 2007 Communities and Local Government launched a consultation on the draft Planning Policy Statement 4: Sustainable Economic Development. This summary reflects the views of 321 organisations and individuals who responded
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Eco-town plans shape up, say experts
1 August 2008Significant progress has been made in the proposals for eco-towns, according to a report published by the Eco-Town Challenge Panel, an independent group of experts in sustainability and urban development set up by Housing Minister Caroline Flint
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Cost Analysis of the Code for Sustainable Homes: Final Report Cost Analysis of The Code for Sustainable Homes: Final Report
22 July 2008CLG report which presents the findings of research to update and enhance existing cost benchmarks for achieving different performance levels under the Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code)
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Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities: Statutory Guidance
9 July 2008This document provides statutory guidance to local authorities and their partners on creating strong, safe and prosperous communities. It covers the duty to involve and duties around Local Area Agreements in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
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Experts lay down the gauntlet to eco-town developers
25 June 2008The fifteen experts on the Eco-towns Challenge Panel have today set out a series of recommendations for potential eco-town developers, designed to improve their plans to create world-leading sustainable developments
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Cracking the Code
22 May 2008The Code for Sustainable Homes is a new tool to assess the environmental performance of new-build homes
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Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical guide - April 2008
24 April 2008This technical guidance manual is the April 2008 version. This technical guidance sets out the requirements for the Code, and the process by which a Code assessment is reached. It aims to make gaining a Code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible
Fuel poverty
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Warmer houses – healthier homes
26 February 2010Housing Health and Fuel Poverty Forum's website
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National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships
26 February 2010Updated National Indicator Definitions
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Cold homes in the private rented sector
26 February 2010The role of local authorities
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Leeds City Region Summit
26 February 2010Speech by The Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Local Government
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Fuel poverty inquiry announced
26 February 2010The Energy and Climate Change Committee has issued a call for written evidence for its forthcoming short inquiry into fuel poverty
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Fuel poverty policy challenged by think tank
26 February 2010The government needs to revamp its strategy for helping people pay their fuel bills, a think tank claims
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“I find TEAMnet an invaluable resource, both as an Assistant Director of Manchester City Council running a Beacon repair and three-star housing service and as Director of Property Services here at three-star Northwards Housing. I have been a member from the very start as I saw the need for such a club - the briefings, the help and information from others has proved time and time again to be useful in driving forward both service and value for money across asset management. It does help you move your service forward. You need to be part of it for it to work for you.”
Larry Patrick, Director of Property Services, Northwards Housing