Government to scrap zero carbon target

The treasury has axed its target to make new homes carbon neutral from 2016.

The move has been condemned by housebuilders, planners and environmental groups, with many shocked at the policy u-turn.

The plans were announced by Chancellor George Osborne’s ‘Fixing the Foundations’ productivity plan, which outlined government strategy to increase UK productivity across the next decade.

The initiative would have seen all new homes from 2016 generate as much on-site energy through renewable sources, such as solar and wind power, as they would consume in heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation. The policy was to be underpinned by tougher energy efficiency standards and a scheme that would have seen housebuilders deliver equivalent carbon savings off site.

Both regulations were abandoned as the productivity plan stated: ‘The government does not intend to proceed with the zero carbon Allowable Solutions carbon offsetting scheme, or the proposed 2016 increase in on-site energy efficiency standards, but will keep energy efficiency standards under review, recognising that existing measures to increase energy efficiency of new buildings should be allowed time to become established.’

The policy began life in 2006 when it was first announced under the Labour government by then-chancellor Gordon Brown, claiming Britain was taking the lead by being the first country to make such a commitment.

Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council, Julie Hirigoyen said: “Let us be in no doubt this announcement is the death knell for zero carbon homes.

“It is short-sighted, unnecessary, retrograde and damaging to the house building industry which has invested heavily in delivering energy efficient homes.”

Leading figures from the housebuilding industry, energy leaders and environmentalists were equally downbeat at the change in policy.

Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust commented: “We are very disappointed with this decision. Under the Climate Change Act, we have to achieve at least an 80% reduction in the carbon emissions from our homes by 2050. We need to be building homes now that are 2050 ready.”

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the Town and Country Planning Association said: “The cancellation of the policy marks the end of any benchmark for building the high quality, sustainable homes that we so desperately need.”

Daisy Sands, energy and climate campaigner at Greenpeace UK said: “Ditching schemes to support energy efficiency for new homes is a calamitous decision all round. Energy-wasting homes mean higher bills, increased dependence on gas imports from countries like Russia, and more climate-warming emissions.”

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