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Mar 08, 2006 -- M2 PRESSWIRE
LONDON A draft government Code aimed at setting national sustainability standards for new homes has been branded "totally inadequate" by the Town and Country Planning Association, Friends of the Earth and Renewable Energy Association. The Government consultation on the code ends today. Tougher standards aimed at major reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from new homes, including Reductions in carbon emissions produced by new commercial buildings as well as the refurbishment of existing buildings. Making the Code mandatory. The organisations have also been leading a campaign for a new Planning Policy Statement on climate change. The Government is widely expected to make an announcement shortly. Friends of the Earth Planning Advisor Hugh Ellis said: "This totally inadequate draft code will do little to tackle carbon dioxide emissions from new buildings. The Government must make it tougher and compulsory if it is serious about tackling climate change. If it doesn't, it will lock us in to a carbon intensive lifestyle for the next generation." TCPA Director Gideon Amos said: "We are disappointed the draft Code applies only to new homes, since this will affect just 1 per cent of the entire stock, and also that the Code remains voluntary. This looks like fiddling while Rome burns. "A strong, mandatory Code would ensure good developers who choose to build well aren't undercut by those who don't. This will help to stimulate innovation, provide certainty for industry, and create a model for a low-carbon future." The NGO's stressed that meeting better standards need not cost the earth. Achieving BRE 'excellent' costs around 1 per cent of the average UK house price, whilst bringing enormous benefits for the consumer, cutting CO2 emissions by more than a quarter compared with typical new-build homes, and saving occupants around GBP138 a year in utility bills. Seb Berry Head of Micro-Renewables at the Renewable Energy Association said: "The Government needn't be so timid. Right now major house builders are incorporating proven renewable energy technology into new estates such as the Barratt Homes developments in Chorley and Chesterfield. We would like to see such developments rolled out as standard across the UK. The Code for Sustainable Homes could make this happen if only ODPM had the political will to put sustainability first and deliver a level playing field for all developers. The coalition added that the Code should also include minimum space standards, to halt shrinking room sizes, as well as the 'lifetime homes' standard to help create more inclusive communities. In its response to the consultation on the draft Code for sustainable homes, the TCPA sets out how it should be made mandatory through revision of the Building Regulations to ensure the achievement of '1 star' rating as minimum in all new buildings and alterations to buildings. The Code should also be subject to independent assessment as one third of new homes fail to comply with Building Regulations. Government should publish a date by which this will have been achieved. Secondly, the Government should produce a Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change requiring planning authorities to adopt Code standards. More immediately the Code should be empowered through Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3: Housing). Paragraph 39 (of draft PPS3) should require where appropriate local authorities to incorporate Code into Local Development Frameworks. Notes to editors The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is an independent charity working to improve the art and science of town and country planning. The TCPA puts social justice and the environment at the heart of policy debate and inspires government, industry and campaigners to take a fresh perspective on major issues, including planning policy, housing, regeneration and climate change. Join the TCPA at www.tcpa.org.uk[1] Our objectives are to: Secure a decent, well designed home for everyone, in a human-scale environment combining the best features of town and country Empower people and communities to influence decisions that affect them Improve the planning system in accordance with the principles of sustainable development The Lifetime Homes concept was developed in 1991 by a group of housing experts who came together as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Lifetime Homes Group. Lifetime Homes have sixteen design features that ensure a new house or flat will meet the needs of most households. This does not mean that every family is surrounded by things that they do not need. The accent is on accessibility and design features that make the home flexible enough to meet whatever comes along in life: a teenager with a broken leg, a family member with serious illness, or parents carrying in heavy shopping and dealing with a pushchair. For more information please see http://www.jrf.org.uk/housingandcare/lifetimehomes/default.asp[2] A recent study of compliance of the Building Regulations identified that a third of new homes are failing to comply with Part L. Brown, M. (2004) 'Assessment of energy efficiency impact on Building Regulations Compliance', Energy Saving Trust and Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes, UK) A letter to the press raising a number of concerns about the proposed Code for Sustainable Homes was published in the Daily Telegraph newspaper today, signed by Gideon Amos , Director, Town and Country Planning Association, Lord Richard Best , Director, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Brian Tisdall , BP Investment Management Ltd, Clive Harridge , President, Royal Town Planning Institute, Adam Sampson , Director, Shelter, Stephen Tindale , Executive Director, Greenpeace UK, Tony Juniper , Director, Friends of the Earth, Guy Thompson , Director, Green Alliance, Charles Couzens , Executive Director, Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development, David Green , Chief Executive UKBCSE, Cllr Adrian Dennis , Cabinet Member, Croydon Council, David Cowans , Places for People Group. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/200 6/03/06/dt0601.xml[3] .. [1] http://www.tcpa.org.uk .. [2] http://www.jrf.org.uk/housingandcare/lifetimehomes/default.asp .. [3] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/03/06/dt 0601.xml M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com. News Provided By |
