An investigation of the ‘soft’ features of sustainable and healthy housing design: Exploring stakeholder preferences and their provision in new housing developments.

Despite the widely recognised importance of the impact that built environment has on health and well-being, the concept of sustainable housing is still regarded largely in terms of environmental sustainability. However, given the urgent need to increase the quantity and sustainability of new homes in the UK, it is essential that the design and delivery of sustainable housing does not neglect health and well-being aspects that are essential for enhancing the quality of life and the development of sustainable communities. This study focuses on the ‘soft’ features of sustainable housing, that is, the non-technological components of housing and neighbourhood design that can affect occupants’ health and well-being as well as their satisfaction with their homes. The research aims to conceptualise and identify these ‘soft’ features of housing design and establish whether the opinions of housing users regarding their importance are aligned with those of the housing providers. Using a case study approach, the study also assesses the extent to which such features are being provided by new housing developments. The research begins with a review of literature of the sustainable housing and healthy housing concepts, which lead to the development of a framework for sustainable housing design with an emphasis on health and well-being. Building on this foundation, three phases of the methodology were developed to address the aims of the research: Firstly, a content analysis of sustainable housing standards is carried out, followed by a survey to ascertain the relative importance that housing stakeholders attach to these ‘soft’ features, and lastly, six housing developments are evaluated with regards to their provision of these features. The findings reveal that housing user preferences are not always aligned with those of housing providers, and indeed, a number of notable differences in opinion are also found between the private sector and social housing providers. Lastly, assessment of the six case studies indicates a low level of provision of such features new housing developments. These findings indicate that a more comprehensive approach is necessary for addressing and providing for the softer features of housing and neighbourhood design

Glastir Monitoring & Evaluation Programme. Second year annual report

What is the purpose of Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme? Glastir is the main scheme by which the Welsh Government pays for environmental goods and services whilst the Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (GMEP) evaluates the scheme’s success. Commissioning of the monitoring programme in parallel with the launch of the Glastir scheme provides fast feedback and means payments can be modified to increase effectiveness. The Glastir scheme is jointly funded by the Welsh Government (through the Rural Development Plan) and the EU. GMEP will also support a wide range of other national and international reporting requirements. What is the GMEP approach? GMEP collects evidence for the 6 intended outcomes from the Glastir scheme which are focussed on climate change, water and soil quality, biodiversity, landscape, access and historic environment, woodland creation and management. Activities include; a national rolling monitoring programme of 1km squares; new analysis of long term data from other schemes combining with GMEP data where possible; modelling to estimate future outcomes so that adjustments can be made to maximise impact of payments; surveys to assess wider socio-economic benefits; and development of novel technologies to increase detection and efficiency of future assessments. How has GMEP progressed in this 2nd year? 90 GMEP squares were surveyed in Year 2 to add to the 60 completed in Year 1 resulting in 50% of the 300 GMEP survey squares now being completed. Squares will be revisited on a 4 year cycle providing evidence of change in response to Glastir and other pressures such as changing economics of the farm business, climate change and air pollution. This first survey cycle collects the baseline against which future changes will be assessed. This is important as GMEP work this year has demonstrated land coming into the scheme is different in some respects to land outside the scheme. Therefore, future analysis to detect impact of Glastir will be made both against the national backdrop from land outside the scheme and this baseline data from land in scheme. A wide range of analyses of longterm data has been completed for all Glastir Outcomes with the exception of landscape quality and historic features condition for which limited data is available. This has involved combining data with 2013/14 GMEP data when methods allow. Overall analysis of long term data indicates one of stability but with little evidence of improvement with the exception of headwater quality, greenhouse gas emissions and woodland area for which there has been improvement over the last 20 years. Some headline statistics include: 51% of historic features in excellent or sound condition; two thirds of public rights of way fully open and accessible; improvement in hedgerow management with 85% surveyed cut in the last 3 years but < 1% recently planted; 91% of streams had some level of modification but 60% retained good ecological quality; no change topsoil carbon content over last 25 years. What is innovative? GMEP has developed various new metrics to allow for more streamlined reporting in the future. For example a new Priority Bird species Index for Wales which combines data from 35 species indicates at least half have stable or increasing populations. The new GMEP Visual Quality Landscape Index has been tested involving over 2600 respondents. Results have demonstrated its value as an objective and repeatable method for quantifying change in visual landscape quality. A new unified peat map for Wales has been developed which has been passed to Glastir Contract Managers to improve targeting of payments when negotiating Glastir contracts. An estimate of peat soil contribution to current greenhouse gas emissions due to human modification has been calculated. Models have allowed quantification of land area helping to mitigate rainfall runoff. We are using new molecular tools to explore the effects of Glastir on soil organisms and satellite technologies to quantify e.g. small woody features and landcover change. Finally we are using a community approach to develop a consensus on how to define and report change in High Nature Value Farmland which will be reported in the Year 3 GMEP report

Glastir Monitoring & Evaluation Programme. Final report

Final Report to Welsh Government, prepared by CEH on behalf of the Glastir Monitoring & Evaluation Programme Team. The Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (GMEP) provides a comprehensive programme to establish a baseline against which future assessments of Glastir can be made. GMEP also contributes national trend data which supports a range of national and international biodiversity and environmental targets. GMEP fulfils a commitment by the Welsh Government to establish a monitoring programme concurrently with the launch of the Glastir scheme. The use of models and farmer surveys provides early indicators of the likely direction, magnitude and timing of future outcomes. The programme ensures compliance with the rigorous requirements of the European Commission’s Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (CMEF) through the Rural Development Plan (RDP) for Wales. This report represents the final results of the GMEP programme which ran from 2012 to 2016

Landscape and Historic. Chapter 4 of second year contract report by the GMEP monitoring team to the Welsh Government, Cardiff.

Chapter 4 of second year contract report by the GMEP monitoring team to the Welsh Government, Cardiff. July 2015. See also the data portal at https://gmep.wale