Development footprint

For the purposes of the Home Quality Mark (HQM), the development footprint consists of:

The site, considered to be the land enclosed by the boundary of the HQM assessment, and includes any land used for buildings, hardstanding, landscaping, site access or where construction work is carried out (or land being disturbed in any other way). It also includes any areas used for temporary site storage and buildings. If it is not known exactly where buildings, hardstanding, site access, temporary storage and buildings will be located, it must be assumed that the development footprint is the entire development site.

For the purpose of the Change in Ecological Value calculation this area will also include any land outside the development boundary where:

There is an indirect impact on biodiversity, including but not limited to the Zone of Influence, and
Land being used to compensate for impacts, either on the site or outside it as a biodiversity offset.

Ref Home Quality Mark One, Technical Manual SD239, England, Scotland & Wales, published by BRE in 2018.

‘The development footprint includes any land used for buildings, hardstanding, landscaping, site access or where construction work is carried out (or land is being disturbed in any other way), plus a 3 m boundary in every direction around these areas. It also includes any areas used for temporary site storage and buildings. If it is not known exactly where buildings, hardstanding, site access, temporary storage and buildings will be located, it must be assumed that the development footprint is the entire development site.’