Having now had a chance to look properly through the planning application for Redland House (the old Nat West building facing the Downs), I have submitted an objection.
While I think the design is fine and probably better than the plans approved in 2008, the sustainability components appear to me to be really rather weak. The building will achieve a BREAAM 'Excellent' rating, which is positive, prima facie, but it has done so by mainly collecting the 'points' for measures which are not about energy - e.g. for materials or management. As the plans currently stand, there is little or no intent to install renewables (despite a large flat roof), no rainwater harvesting and no consideration given to limiting electricity consumption. There are also continuing issues about parking and tree loss which I have highlighted.
For an iconic building, it could and should do much better. The 2008 plans were a strip-down and reface, but the new plans are for a full demolition to ground level. To my mind, this means that they need to go a lot further to reduce the carbon footprint of the development as they will be using more materials to build it in the first place. From a sustainability perspective, it reads to me like an opening negotiating position: we know it's poor at the moment, but we don't want to be pushed upwards too far. I know that the Redland & Cotham Amenities Society have also objected, so we'll see what happens next.
UPDATE (22/12/10) : Had a lengthy chat with the planning consultant yesterday and they are committed to addressing some of my concerns and are actively looking into the others. Very positive conversation and now hopeful of getting something more appropriate.
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