Version 4

Version 4 continues in use on existing Assessments and, up to October 2012, new applicants for formal verified assessments can opt to use Version 4 rather than Version 5.

CEEQUAL will shortly be delivering an updated Manual for Version 4 (4.2). This will incorporate all the relevent updates (terminology, legislation, agency names, etc.) that have been learnt during the production of Version 5. The questions and weightings will remain as they are in the Manual for Version 4.1.

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12 Sections of the Assessment

The questions in the Scheme are arranged in 12 sections listed below. They have been weighted by CEEQUAL to reflect the contribution of the actions sought by each question to the overall performance of the project or contract. This has been done in two stages. The Scheme sections have been weighted to reflect the contribution of performance in each section to overall performance, and the questions in each section have been weighted to reflect their relative importance within their section. These weightings are embedded in the scores awarded for each question.

The section weightings are based on consultation within the CEEQUAL Technical Advisory Group, Assessors and Verifiers, the ICE, and a range of other stakeholder groups and interested parties. The Weighting Factors used in the Version 4 Methodology are the result of a previous weighting exercise carried out during 2008 and refinement in 2011, and are set down below alongside the summary of the contents of each section of the Scheme;

Project Management (10.9%) covers the need for environmental risk assessments and active environmental management, training, the influence of contractual and procurement processes, delivering environmental and social performance, construction issues, minimising emissions.
Land Use ( 7.9%) covers design for minimum land-take, legal requirements, flood risk, previous use of the site, land contamination and remediation measures.
Landscape ( 7.4%) covers consideration of landscape issues in design, amenity features, local character, loss and compensation or mitigation of landscape features, implementation and management, and completion and aftercare.
Ecology & Biodiversity (8.8%) covers impacts on sites of high ecological value, protected species, conservation & enhancement, habitat creation measures, monitoring and maintenance.
The Historic Environment (6.7%) covers baseline studies and surveys, conservation and enhancement measures to be taken if features are found, and information and public access.
Water resources and the Water Environment (8.5%) covers control of a project’s impacts on, and protection of, the water environment, legal requirements, minimising water usage, and enhancement of the water environment.
Energy and Carbon (9.5%) covers life-cycle energy and carbon analysis, energy and carbon emissions in use, and energy and carbon performance on site, but not embodied energy, which is in Section 8.
Material Use (9.4%) covers minimising environmental impact of materials used, minimising material use and waste, responsible sourcing of materials including selection of timber, using re-used and/or recycled material, minimising use and impacts of hazardous materials, durability and maintenance, and future de-construction or disassembly.
Waste Management ( 8.4%) covers design for waste minimisation, legal requirements, waste from site preparation, and on-site waste management.
Transport (8.1%) covers location of a project in relation to transport infrastructure, minimising traffic impacts of a project, construction transport, and minimising workforce travel.
Effects on Neighbours (7.0%) covers minimising operation and construction-related nuisances, legal requirements, nuisance from construction noise and vibration, and from air and light pollution, and visual impact, including site tidiness.
Relations with the Local Community and other Stakeholders (7.4%) covers community consultation, community relations programmes and their effectiveness, engagement with relevant local groups, and human environment, aesthetics and employment.