CM Porter Novelli

Pioneering Consortium Gathers Momentum and Extends Reach with Wider Stakeholder Involvement

The pioneering AIMC4 Consortium, set up to research and deliver mass market low carbon homes, has secured the involvement of a range of stakeholders from across the UK to provide a holistic dimension to the project.

 

Edinburgh, Midlothian -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/09/2010 -- Senior representatives of trade bodies, government – including the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Government – planning authorities and financial organisations have been invited to join a new Stakeholder Group. The group, which will meet quarterly, will provide additional expertise and insight, particularly in terms of how legislative and market changes will impact on AIMC4. The group will also provide an extra level of insight and help the project team to maintain a rigorous assessment of the ongoing aims and objectives.

Ultimately, AIMC4 will deliver world-class, energy efficient homes that meet Level Four of the Code for Sustainable Homes through fabric and primary building services solutions alone. The consortium’s innovative approach has already started to seek out the very best and latest technologies both from within the house building industry and across other hi-tech industries such as automotive and aerospace.

Chair of the group, Robert Napier of the Homes and Communities Agency, said: “For AIMC4 to be successful, it is imperative that the project is future-proofed by keeping abreast of developments that might impact on future house building. This group allows the consortium to work in partnership with organisations that will not only provide essential insight, but also bring considerable weight in terms of providing guidance on planning and other legislative areas and ensure that the delivered homes meet scrupulously high standards.”

Commenting on behalf of AIMC4, Stewart Dalgarno, Stewart Milne Group said: “The main focus of the AIMC4 project is the consumer and providing them with user friendly, low energy homes of the highest standard, at an affordable price. In order to meet our objectives, we recognise the involvement of external industry experts is fundamental, so we can bring together a cohesive solution everyone supports, in readiness for mass market delivery.

“There is a tremendous level of knowledge within the stakeholder group and its expertise during the course of the project will be invaluable. The support of the group will be vitally important to the success of AIMC4 and we expect it to play a significant role in helping us achieve our goals.”

The AIMC4 stakeholder group will include: Richard Miller, Technology Strategy Board; Neil Jefferson, Zero Carbon Hub; Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC; Rob Thomas, Council of Mortgage Lenders; Jo Whyman, Zurich; John Tebbit, Construction Products Association; Greg Cooper, British Board of Agrément; Kate Henderson, Town & Country Planning Association; Paul Everall, Local Authority Building Controls; Matt Bell, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE); John Hardaker, Hot Water Association; Chris Yates, Heating & Hot Water Industry Council; Fraser Winterbottom, Energy Saving Trust; Gavin Peart, Scottish Government Building Standards Agency; Francois Samuel, Welsh Assembly; and Mark Farrar, ConstructionSkills.

AIMC4 is a £6.4m project, with £3.2m investment from the consortium partners, matched with £3.2m from the Technology Strategy Board. The consortium comprises six members: developers, Stewart Milne Group, Crest Nicholson Plc and Barratt Developments Plc; plus H+H UK Ltd; BRE and Oxford Brookes University.

In other news, the consortium has just launched its brand new website at http://www.aimc4.com, which provides visitors with all the latest updates, news and information about the AIMC4 project.