Design is more than just the way something looks or whether it works, and cannot be achieved simply by following a prescriptive approach. It is a process that should be a defining part of any project. It will often be an iterative process and will evolve as the project develops. Good design also needs to be forward looking and able to respond to future policy and regulatory requirements.
Just as with any construction project, a waste management facility will need to ensure it offers the right balance in terms of quality, time and cost.
Quality must be considered not only in terms of the immediate functional needs of a waste facility but in terms of wider design issues, such as:
■ will it harmonise with the setting?
■ is the facility fit for purpose?
■ can the site accommodate the proposed use?
■ does it minimise the use of resources?
■ will the building be flexible/adaptable?
■ is there suitable access?
Time refers to the need to meet appropriate timescales in terms of getting the facility financed, permitted, designed, built, fitted out and ready for service. Often the project will need to be delivered to meet time-related fiscal pressures such as the landfill tax escalator.
'Good design can be summarised as a mix of the following attributes: i. functionality in use: is the building fit for purpose, or even better, does it use know-how and innovation to provide business and social value? Does it optimise the operational cost of core services and, in particular, the productivity of staff? ii. build quality: is the building built on whole life cost principles - built to last and easy to maintain? iii. efficiency and sustainability: is the building designed in a way that it will be completed on (or before) time, to budget and to specification? Is the building environmentally efficient, in terms of where it is located, how it has been constructed and how it will be used? iv. designing in context: is the building respectful of its context, strengthening the identity of the neighbourhood in its landscape? The government's guidance on urban and rural design, By Design, states that any new development should accord with the following principles - character, continuity and enclosure, quality of public space, ease of movement, legibility, adaptability and, where appropriate, diversity of use. v. aesthetic quality: the procurer may have architectural requirements that will form an essential element of the design process. These could include the need for distinguished architecture, or the need for a building to harmonise with other existing buildings.' Improving Standards of Design |
The time to gain permission for a waste facility is likely to be considerable compared to other building projects because of the need for greater consideration of environmental impacts, and for community engagement. The start of a project is when most can be done to add value through careful preparation and adequate time for design.
Cost covers the construction, materials and all related expenses including operational costs. The cost of planning, and securing the input of professional advisors can also be significant.
There are three principal phases in the design of a waste facility, which can be simply broken down into prepare, design and construct. There is a degree of overlap between these phases and it is at the start of the project that most can be done to add value through careful preparation and adequate time for design.