The government has announced major investment to build social housing and affordable homes across England. The plans are likely to increase demand for professionals involved in the design, construction and energy assessment of new homes, including On Construction Domestic Energy Assessors (OCDEAs), often known as SAP Assessors.
Government Pledges Billions To Build New Housing
The ten-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme is worth £39 billion. Its main aim is to increase the supply of homes, with at least 60% expected to be provided for Social Rent.
As part of the first funding allocations, £9.58 billion will go to 33 strategic partners outside London. This is expected to support 73,600 new social and affordable homes, with nearly two-thirds of those delivered through the partnerships expected to be for Social Rent.
However, this is only the beginning. More than £16 billion outside London and around £5 billion in London is still to be allocated. The government intends to prioritise social rent and council homes when distributing this remaining funding.
What Does the Drive to Build Social Housing Mean for OCDEAs?
Every new home must meet the relevant energy-efficiency requirements under the Building Regulations. Qualified and accredited OCDEAs have an important role in helping developers, councils and housing associations demonstrate that new properties comply.
An OCDEA assesses architectural plans, construction materials, insulation, heating systems and other specifications. Using specialist software, they calculate the predicted energy performance, carbon emissions, primary energy use and fabric energy efficiency of a new home. They undertake SAP calculations and produce Building Regulations England Part L (BREL) reports to support Building Regulations compliance, as well as EPCs once appropriately accredited.
By becoming involved during the design stage, a SAP Assessor can identify potential problems before construction is completed. They can work with clients and design teams to recommend practical and cost-effective improvements.
With tens of thousands of homes planned and billions of pounds still available, councils, housing associations and developers are likely to need access to more qualified professionals with these skills.
Train as an OCDEA with Energy Trust
Energy Trust offers a Level 3 Certificate in Domestic On Construction Energy Assessment, an industry-recognised qualification relevant to the energy assessment of new-build homes.
The SAP Assessor course involves four consecutive days of live online, interactive training with an experienced tutor. Learners then complete a remote portfolio containing five example projects, preparing them to assess new-build homes in the real world.
The timing is particularly significant for SAP Assessors. SAP 10.3 is currently the approved methodology for assessing the energy performance of new dwellings in England and is presently the sole approved methodology for demonstrating compliance with the Future Homes Standard. The government intends to introduce the new Home Energy Model alongside SAP 10.3 in the future. These changes place an increasing emphasis on low-carbon heating, high levels of energy efficiency and renewable electricity generation in new homes.
Sources: Historic council housebuilding comeback — GOV.UK and The Social and Affordable Homes Programme and the reinvigoration of council housebuilding — GOV.UK
