Its "Green" Up North

New homes in Manchester are set to become among the greenest in the country thanks to the inclusion of a set of Environmental Standards in the Guide to Development in Manchester that developers must follow. The Guide, launched last month aims for developers to ensure that their new homes produce at least 25% less carbon dioxide and use at least 20% less water than the average development to be given permission to build.

Manchester is one of the first Local Authorities to adopt the Government’s new Code for Sustainable Homes, which currently has only voluntary status at the national level.

Speaking in Sustainable Buildings Councillor Neil Swannick, said: “The Guide to Development puts Manchester at the forefront of environmental building standards. If Manchester’s economy is to grow and we wish to improve the quality of life for our residents we must future proof the city’s building stock against the inevitable impacts of climate change.

Developers will also be expected to plant 10% more trees on site than before they started benefiting the city’s wildlife and all new buildings will be expected to include facilities so that occupants of all kinds of buildings can recycle their waste.