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UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
DCLG urged not to demolish sustainable homes policy
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has been urged by MPs to reconsider plans to axe a policy that has driven up home building standards and helped to create a thriving sustainable building industry in the UK.
The cross-party Environmental Audit Committee criticised the Department for its decision to remove local authorities’ discretion to set high standards on energy and water saving – using the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) – in favour of a ‘lowest-common denominator’ national standard.
Environmental Audit Committee Chair Joan Walley said: ‘The Secretary of State should think again before demolishing the Code for Sustainable Homes. The policy has been a big success in driving up home building standards, delivering local choice and supporting green exports. Building materials manufacturers in the UK told us that they use the Code as a green kitemark when they sell their products abroad.’
Walley added: ‘The coalition agreement promised that the government would return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils, but this decision bulldozes local choice in favour of a one-size-fits-all approach designed to benefit developers who want to build homes on the cheap.’
The report pointed out that the CSH is a proven policy mechanism for driving incremental improvements in sustainable home building. CSH standards on energy use have been successfully embedded in Building Regulations over the six years since the policy was introduced, and DCLG has not set out a replacement mechanism to drive sustainability in the future.
The Committee recommended that DCLG maintains and refreshes the CSH as a tool for local authorities to lever in sustainability, and retains CSH standards on sustainable construction materials to support green exports and green growth.
Joan Walley MP concluded: ‘Hundreds of thousands of homes have to be built in the coming decades. Smart energy and water saving measures – which will ultimately save homeowners money on their bills – must become the norm if we want our homes to be fit for the future.’
News Item details
Journal title: Energy World
Countries: UK -
Subjects: Architecture, Policy and Governance, Sustainability
