URSUS Consulting Ltd

As government policy and industry initiatives continue to raise the sustainability bar for regeneration and building projects local authorities, housing associations, developers and clients having a growing interest in procuring buildings which meet sustainable construction standards, lower whole life costs, are pleasant to work and live in and contribute to the sustainable communities agenda through good design and access to high quality green space. However keeping up-to-date with the new legislation, assessment methods and opportunities, including funding, can be a major challenge in this fast moving field.

URSUS assists clients to meet these challenges in a number of ways:

• Green Infrastructure: advice on costs of green infrastructure, funding and delivery models, including green space management trusts funded through endowments, Community Infrastructure Levy, 'roof taxes' and revenue generating activities. 
• Sustainable Construction Guidance: advice on what is expected and how standards demanded by different funding or planning bodies can be met;
• Disseminating Best practice examples of sustainable construction and greenspace to share their costs, benefits and lessons learnt with wider audiences.
• Evaluation: economic appraisal and whole life costing to compare the life time costs and benefits (including carbon) of different development options and building standards;
• Business Planning: consultation, organisational development and business planning for delivery and long term management of high quality greenspace.

Case Studies:

• Birmingham Watercourses, on behalf of the Environment Agency, Birmingham City Council and partners - a study to identify watercourse improvements and funding options that would generate environmental, flood alleviation, economic regeneration and social benefits.     
• Review of Climate Change Leadership, Academy for Sustainable Communities, 2008. Primary research and developing web based case studies of cutting-edge sustainable construction and low carbon approaches such as Upton Sustainable Urban Extension and Sherwood Energy Village to communicate the benefits, costs and lessons learned;
• emda Sustainable Construction Guide, 2008. Guidance for developers and clients on sustainable construction requirements and best practice in the East Midlands in the light of the government’s new Sustainable Construction Strategy.
• Ashford Greenspace Trust, 2007-8, Developed a business plan and organisational structure for a Greenspace Trust which will take on the long term management of new and existing greenspace in the Ashford Growth Area.
• One NorthEast Sustainability Toolkit, 2007, guidance for staff and project developers on all aspects of sustainable development in a handy on line guide.
• Appraisal of impacts of different housing standards in the West Midlands, Regional Assembly, 2007-2008. Assessment of the economic, social and environmental implications of housing scenarios to inform the RSS

Examples of clients:

• Land Restoration Trust
• Ashford Futures
• Ely Borough Council
• Environment Agency
• Birmingham City Council
• East Midlands Development Agency
• One NorthEast
• Academy for Sustainable Communities
• South East Regional Assembly
• Walsall Borough Council

URSUS Contact:

Anna MacGillivray
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Tel. 07989 554504

Stephen Owen
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Tel. 07720 416 356