23rd February 2007 - David Nicol

David Nicol, Area Director, Communities Scotland. 

Are re-cycling bins recyclable?

David used his presentation to highlight the key challenges for sustainable development from his perspective as Area Director for Communities Scotland. Communities Scotland funds around a third of all new houses built in Scotland each year. In trying to incorporate sustainable development into this work, there are often more questions than answers – hence the presentation title. However this uncertainty and tension can help create complementary activity, substitution, a better balance and requires moving on a range of fronts at the same time. 

David presented a personal view as well as a Communities Scotland view of the issues surrounding the introduction of sustainable development into the construction industry. Ultimately, sustainable development is about changing organisation and individual behaviour. To do this effectively needs a plan, it's about winning hearts and minds. David identified three key challenges in creating and delivering this change

• How to promote a consistent message,
• How to ensure what we do is consistent and complementary, and
• How do we know we are making an impact. 

David concluded by identifying the following common tensions that challenge us as we try to deliver sustainable development.  As to the way forward, David recognises that both he and Communities Scotland face a paradox and asks, ‘Can we increase lifestyles worldwide and still remain economically sustainable?’ If so, do we need a totalitarian or democratic state to do it?. 

• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Resource use
• Waste by sector and method of disposal
• Bird populations
• Fish stocks
• Air quality
• River quality

 
David was asked the following questions after his presentation

Q. What scope does Communities Scotland have to insist on higher sustainable development design standards for housing?

It can debate with colleagues on use of sustainable materials. There is currently an ongoing consultation process on sustainable development policy and energy efficiency improvements for housing. In addition, infrastructure impact assessment is being considered with the introduction of new houses. Communities Scotland intends to influence the eventual findings.

Q. What sustainable development criteria will be used on buildings – Energy efficiency or Carbon reduction?

Available technologies should be reviewed with a view to their application to a sustainable development brief for a building.  Communities Scotland would hope to influence through making recommendations on the initial brief.

Q. Does the building industry need to work with policy makers to make progress in building more sustainable housing?

If the 2008 building legislation focuses on a new Eco-home standard. This would be accepted by Communities Scotland.  In legislation terms the housing association is ahead of Communities Scotland at present.

Q. There is a clear gap between new building design and take up by construction companies how can this be resolved?

Change in the construction industry is brought about by change in consumer needs. Consumers need to influence but I am not sure how they would do this.

The streaming audio file here allows you to sample key points from David's full presentation. His supporting slide presentation is also available here in Powerpoint (ppt) format.