Responding to measures announced today to make it easier for people install green technology on their homes, HBF Executive Chairman, Stewart Baseley, says:
“The home building industry is committed to working with Government to meet the greatest peacetime challenge in its history: building all new homes to zero-carbon performance standards by 2016.
“Measures to cut red tape and make it easier for people to adopt renewable energy solutions are undoubtedly a welcome step. More generally, local authorities could play an important role in empowering developers, energy supply companies and individuals to work out the best local solutions for new and existing homes going forward.
“However, if we are to achieve the 2016 objective, it is critical that local authorities do not set their own building performance standards or energy requirements. Attempts to achieve self-imposed targets ahead of the Government’s timeframe run the risk of products failing, customer confidence being undermined and housing output declining. With England’s growing shortfall of 60,000 homes every year, this is a situation in which no-one wins.”
Notes to editors
1. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal trade federation for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBF’s 300 member firms account for over 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk
2. Stewart Baseley’s comments are in response to the speech being given today by Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to the Green Alliance.
3. Figures published by CLG in March 2007 predict an annual increase in household formation of 209,000, but the updated figures show a 7% rise to 223,000 new households per year up to 2026. The updated figures can be found at:
click here to view the updated figures from CLG
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Toby Orr
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