The Essex Building (Net Zero) Specification Guidance provides technical information to support the delivery of healthy, efficient, climate resilient homes in Greater Essex which align with the consistent approach set out planning policy in the Operational Energy and Carbon (Net Zero) Planning Policy Statement for Greater Essex – available here 

The Essex Building (Net Zero) Specifications guidance contains outline packaged solutions that meet the requirements of Policy GE1: Operational Energy and Carbon (Net Zero) in homes and buildings set out in the Planning Policy Statement referred to above.  

Within the Main Document, a 2-page guide has been developed for each housing typology which covers fabric and system options in addition to MVHR (Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery) best practice design guidance. The document also includes high level guidance on design considerations and thermal bridging. 

 The Supporting Document brings background information on additional topics, such as aesthetics, low cost design and high level advice on  meeting the Operational Energy and Carbon (Net Zero) policy requirements. The document also examines materials, skills and supply chains in Greater Essex. 

Guidance is published as ‘open source’ and the Essex authorities hope that it will form a valuable evidence resource for local authorities beyond Essex and for industry, stakeholders and national policy makers.    

Following updates to the technical evidence base (primarily to the Essex Net Zero Policy Study) in September 2025, then the Specifications Guidance documents have been reissued too. These replace the July 2024 versions (see archive list below).  The updates incorporate minor cross referencing amendments only. 

The Essex Building (Net Zero) Specification Guidance is available below: 

‘Essex Net Zero Specifications Guidance ’ – Main Document (Introba, Currie & Brown, Etude, Levitt Bernstein, September 2025) 

‘Essex Net Zero Specifications Guidance - Supporting Document’  (Introba, Currie & Brown, Etude, Levitt Bernstein, September 2025) 

Essex Net Zero Specifications Guidance - PHPP Addendum (Introba, Currie & Brown, Etude, Levitt Bernstein, September 2025)

 

Archived Documents (have been superseded but the direct links retained to allow partners time to update links embedded in other documents)

• 10560-IRB-XX-XX-T-OS-5101 - Essex NZ Specifications.pdf
• 10560-IRB-XX-XX-T-OS-5102 - Essex NZ Specifications Supporting Document.pdf