The Somerset Sustainable Housing Study
The What and How of Sustainable Housing :: A Step by Step Guide

This Study has been widely welcomed. It has been bought by Mendip, South Somerset and West Somerset Councils, as well as individuals and architects - other purchasers include Devon County Council, Forum for the Future and Nottingham Trent University. The SSH Study was researched and written to provide both a user friendly and in-depth exploration of sustainable housing and construction issues. The following review of the Study appeared in Sustaining Values (Nov. '99):

"This study is a truly excellent work for getting to grips with the concept of sustainable housing, what it means in practice and how it can be applied ... The finished report is now available and I highly recommend it to everybody interested in seeing housing ... being built in a sustainable rather than wasteful and polluting way.
 
".. a thorough and detailed report which covers all aspects of sustainable housing … with a bioregional focus, this authoritative report is, however, for councils, housing associations, architects, and developers nationwide."
 
Permaculture Magazine, Spring 2000.

This Study is designed to provide you with the information that you need, so that you get as much out of it as possible.

It is also available on floppy disk. This means that local Councils and Housing Associations, for example, can use and adapt elements of the Study in their own Supplementary Planning Guidance, design advice documents, committee reports, and so on. It is hoped that individuals, architects and developers will also use information in this study to support planning applications for sustainable housing projects. South Somerset District Council have the study accessible to all Council staff and Councillors via their internal computer system, as well as having printed off multiple copies of the study for key staff and Councillors who are specifically involved in these issues.

In its main sections the Study includes the following:

SECTION 1: Introduction to Housing and Sustainability: The General Context    8
SECTION 2: What is Sustainable Housing?    14
3.A: Sustainable Housing: General Principles    14
3.B: Sustainable Housing: Practical Details    29
SECTION 3: How can we create Sustainable Housing?    58
SECTION 4: Housing and Sustainability: The Local Context    74
SECTION 5: Conclusions on Sustainable Housing    85
SECTION 6: recommendations    97
APPENDICES: Including ....
Useful Organisations, Contacts and Publications; Books and other Resources; Sustainable Housing Checklist; Useful Information for Planning Applications; An Idealised Sustainable Housing Development, Sustainable Housing Questionnaire; Political and Institutional Support; Summary on Planning and Sustainable Housing, etc.

All sections the Somerset Sustainable Housing Study may well be useful and interesting to most people; the following table aims to highlight what are expected to be the most useful sections to particular people.

What is your interest in sustainable housing?	Particularly Useful Sections
Individuals wanting to know more about all aspects of sustainable housing - anyone needing a Step-by-Step guide to the subject.	Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Council officers needing examples of successful policies and projects, plus recommendations for action	Sections: 5 & 6
Council officers needing examples of successful policies and projects, plus recommendations for action	Sections: 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Housing Associations and other housing providers	Sections: 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Community groups and Development Trusts keen to promote sustainable housing	Sections: 2, 3, 4 & 5
Architects, builders, etc. involved in designing and building houses	Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Housing developers	Sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Students and academics (e.g. for course materials)	Sections: 5 & 6
Those involved in local to national housing or Agenda 21 strategy.	Sections: 2 & 3
Please Note: The contacts and information list in the Appendices section will be useful to all users of this Study.

The SSH Study is available to Councils, Housing Associations and Small Businesses for £45.00, to Universities and Colleges for £35.00 and to individuals and community organisations for £25.00; for larger businesses the price is £100.

To order a copy of the Study go to STSD Publications.
For a copy of the Study on disk contact