Award-winning design and planning consultancy Nash Partnership has promoted Associate Architect Paul Miller to ‘Director of Sustainability’.
In a move which reflects the practice’s long-term approach, Paul will lead and shape an existing sustainability strategy which is central to the business. The client-facing part of his role will see him provide practical and impactful advice which is viable and sensibly applied to the context of each project.
In his new role as Director of Sustainability, Paul joins the senior tier which comprises colleagues from the practice’s heritage, architecture, planning and placemaking teams.
Paul is a qualified architect with over 20 years’ experience gained in London and the South West. To his clients, he brings a passion for design coupled with the ability to inspire others and solve problems with intellectual rigour. His career includes designing sustainable buildings and places, from individual homes through to new neighbourhoods and masterplans. He also understands the importance of buildability, with hands-on experience gained through working on building sites. Projects Paul has worked on include:
- Southmead Estate regeneration, Bristol – Paul helped prepare a high-level masterplan vision for the regeneration of the centre of the Southmead Estate. The proposals will deliver c.300 new homes to suit the local need for smaller apartments in an area concentrated with large family homes. The community endorsed the masterplan and Paul went on to work on the Phase 1 Detailed Planning application which includes 187 homes and other uses. The CO2 emissions savings have been maximised using a fabric first approach, supported by on-site renewable energy technologies in the form air source heat pumps, demonstrating compliance with Bristol City Council’s BCS14 requirement of 20% improvement over Part L including renewables.
- Priorswood, Taunton – this low-carbon project sought to identify a strategy to resolve the structural issues with 184 Woolaway homes in Taunton. After extensive community engagement, we are replacing 162 Woolaway homes, refurbishing 27 Woolaway homes, providing 65 additional homes, a new open space and a community centre. The new build homes adopt a fabric first approach with high levels of insulation and elimination of cold bridging, supported by a combination of air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels with battery storage, MVHR and waste water heat recovery systems.
- Water Lane, Exeter – this low-car, low-carbon scheme has sustainability and wellbeing at its heart. Paul has been central to informing the project’s placemaking strategy, with the masterplan envisaging up to 980 new homes, 310 student rooms and 36,000m2 of other uses, including workspace, education, community and leisure activities, a hotel and mobility hub. The principles of low impact living, deliverability and inclusion, among others, are central to the design. The project makes walking, cycling and public transport use attractive and convenient whilst minimising space for vehicles, with considerable car-free areas, and one parking space per five apartments. It also provides for use of low emissions vehicles with inclusion of an EV vehicle and cycle hire space. The project will provide energy efficient buildings, with zero carbon heat and power generated from PV and ASHPs. It will also include spaces for habitat creation and connections for wildlife. In addition, the site will act as a Ten-Minute Neighbourhood, providing a place to live, work, enjoy and socialise, with a mix of buildings and spaces accommodating a variety of uses and activities.
An important part of Paul’s new role will be to keep abreast of developments in sustainability as the field continues to evolve and implement changes in the practice’s designs, systems, processes and operations. The business has chosen to align itself with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which are used to frame the agenda for change, working towards sustainable development.
Commenting on the promotion, partner Daniel Lugsden said: “Sustainability has been a priority for us for some time now and of course will continue to be so this year. Part of Paul’s brief is to ensure a practice-wide approach while ensuring up-to -date thinking is applied in every aspect. With Paul’s passion and experience in this area, and under his leadership and guidance, our sustainability strategy is in great hands.”
Paul said: “We’re applying a great deal of global thinking to our project designs and business operations alike. While one solution does not fit all, understanding the balance of priority will help to form the appropriate sustainable strategy. I’m looking forward to sharing the benefits of our cumulative knowledge with clients who – like us – understand the influence of design in helping to tackle the climate emergency.”