The development of the campus has been promoted
highlighting that its planned specification would make it the greenest campus
in Europe. [1]
In MMU's case, inevitably, some of those features did not
make it off the plans. If some environmental features do not make it to
implementation, its disappointing.
What is interesting with MMU is that it has applied to
Manchester City Council to be make exempt from the BREEAM standards when it
comes to the shops on Stretford Road. [2] The BREEAM standard against which the
sustainability of new, non-residential buildings in the UK is assessed. [3][4]
To deliberately look for exemption from this standard makes
MMU's environmental statements more marketing than principle.
They should think again and withdraw their planning
request.
Notes
- http://www.mmu.ac.uk/news/news-items/2054/
- http://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NS72MUBC6K000
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BREEAM
- http://www.breeam.org/about.jsp?id=66
Having read the application, it's apparent that it is the Co-op who don't want to pay the additional costs of fitting out the two retail units for their use to achieve the BREEAM 'excellent' standard. MMU have actually achieved the higher 'outstanding' rating for their part of the development, so it seems a little odd to target them with allegations of greenwashing when it's the Co-op who are unwilling to aim for even a lesser standard.
ReplyDeleteIs the Green party calling for the MMU to reject any retailers who won't agree to fit out to this standard? If so will you be extending the campaign to other retail lettings in the area? Will you be calling for the Co-op to make a commitment to reaching the 'excellent' standard across all their retail premises?
We would expect that MMU would outline the standard of the facilities being developed. "The higher 'outstanding' rating" except for... How low should that standard go then?
ReplyDeleteWhen we say 'exemption from this standard makes MMU's environmental statements more marketing than principle', that would seem to apply to the Coop too.
We will query them.