Sustainable development and planning news

Committee on Climate Change warning over Overheating of zero carbon homes Building regulations should include standards to prevent overheating, the government’s climate change advisor has said. In a report, published this week, the Committee on Climate Change said...

Zero Carbon Homes Loophole for housebuilders filled! Fears that house builders will split large sites to out-manoeuvre the government’s exemption policy for Zero Carbon homes on small sites are totally unfounded, a major house builders group has stated. Andrew...

New Sustainability Standard to supersede Code For Sustainable Homes. BRE are set to launch a brand new voluntary Sustainability certification for new housing developments next year, once the Code has breathed its last! The built environment think tank launched a...

Minimum Energy standards to cost less than £1,500 per property Reaching the minimum energy standards should cost private rented sector landlords on average less than £1,500 per property, according to a report by the UK Green Building Council published today. The...

Zero Carbon Homes targets watered down The self pronounced “Greenest government ever” has once again climbed down from it’s  Zero Carbon Homes policy from 2016 by announcing that the target will not be expected of small housing developments when the policy is brought...

DCLG to unveil latest affordable Housing product The “Affordable rent to Buy” Scheme newly announced by the government is backed by a £400 million  fund which should be made available to organisations to pilot the scheme from 2015. The scheme features a part...

The Cost of Zero Carbon Homes - New data from The Zero Carbon Hub From 2016, all new-build  homes will need to meet tough energy efficiency and carbon saving targets. Part L of the Building Regs will require zero carbon emissions from regulated energy in all new homes...

“Flagging” Flagship Green Deal offers incentives to boost take up Take up of the the governments Green Deal Policy described as   “disastrous” by a senior DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change)  official” last week has been boosted once more with an additional...

Pickles Contraditions over Rainham Passivhaus Scheme A new 51 affordable Home development in Rainham, Essex was the focus of a visit from Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary  last week.  The development financed by Circle Housing demonstrates that highly energy...

Labour to fight Government efforts to reign in local plan sustainable development policies Labour has launched an effort to derail the government’s plans to revoke the ability of local councils to set green building standards over and above those laid out in Building...