Net Zero Housing: inquiry into ‘zero carbon ready’ plan

17th March 2021

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has launched an inquiry into the government’s plan to make all new homes ‘zero carbon ready’ by 2025. The call for evidence has a deadline of 30 April 2021 and covers proposals outlined in the Future Homes Standard plan for new homes, as well as plans for improving energy efficiency in existing homes.

The Committee is inviting submissions on the following points:

• New homes: the Future Homes Standard and Future Buildings Standards
  • Do the government’s proposals for improving the energy efficiency of new homes by 2025 go far enough?
  • The government has acknowledged the need to clarify the role of local planning authorities in setting energy efficiency requirements for new homes that go beyond the minimum standards. What role should LPAs play in determining local energy efficiency standards?
  • Is the government right to anticipate that heat pumps will become the primary heating technology for new homes?
  • Will the proposals address the performance gap between design intent and build quality of new homes?
  • Is the government right to introduce revised transitional arrangements? In addition, the Committee seeks evidence on any other issues relating to either the Future Homes Standard or the Future Buildings Standards.

• Existing homes – plans for improving the energy efficiency of the existing housing stock:
  • Local authorities’ progress towards reducing or eliminating the carbon footprint of their own building estate.
  • The role of local authorities in improving the energy efficiency of non-council building stock, including through take-up of the Local Authority Delivery scheme and the setting and enforcing of energy efficiency standards.
  • The role of local authorities in encouraging and enabling private owners to reduce or eliminate their carbon emissions, including through the development of loan schemes similar to the green deal and the delivery of existing grants, such as the Disabled Facilities Grant and Housing Renewal Assistance.
  • The role of MHCLG in making the existing housing stock more energy efficient, including through its review of the Decent Homes Standard.

The Committee also seeks submissions on how else local government help the UK achieve “net zero” emissions by 2050, particularly in relation to improved and decarbonised public transport, waste management and decarbonising the electricity grid.

WM Comment

This is a valuable opportunity for housebuilders, landlords and the wider housing industry to have their say on how the housing sector will play its part in achieving Net Zero and how we can ensure that all stakeholders have a say in the reshaping of the industry.  If you wish to discuss how Net Zero is affecting your business please contact your usual Walker Morris contact.