How to use the West Midlands Sustainability Checklist

The Checklist is best used at the design and planning application stages of a new development. Not surprisingly, early consideration of environmental, social and economic sustainability issues at the design stage in the development process can help in reducing overall costs and increases the likelihood of achieving high-level sustainability objectives for a proposed development project.

The Checklist assumes that the sustainability of sites being brought forward for development in Local Plans has already been subject to Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment and tested at Examination in Public.

This diagram illustrates how the Checklist links with related design and planning tools:

• As a Sustainability Appraisal tool to shape and guide the design of your development
• To carry out a CABE Building for Life audit/assessment for new housing. Please note that there is read across between Building for Life within the Checklist but not on a like-for-like question basis.
• To complete RIBA design Stages A to E
• To prepare for and complete a formal BREEAM assessment
  • BREEAM Communities
  • BREEAM / Code for Sustainable Homes
  • BREEAM office/other

By answering all of the questions in each of the 8 component categories you will have appraised the sustainability of your design proposals so that you:

• Know the key issues and opportunities for your scheme
• Know which aspects of your scheme design that you may need to discuss with the local planning authority and/or;
• Are ready to submit your scheme for planning approval
• Can register for and submit a BREEAM Communities or Code for Sustainable Homes scheme application, if you have not already done so.
• Can prepare for and submit a Cabe Building for Life assessment for new housing development. If you have not already done so. [NB: Building for Life focuses on new housing schemes and developments whereas the Checklist addresses the whole scheme design of any development and how it fits within the surrounding area]. The Checklist addresses all of the Building for Life questions but not on a like for like basis.