Small sites may be let off zero-carbon rule

摘要

Housebuilders could be allowed to avoid reaching the highest environmental standards by paying a levy to offset carbon savings under plans to be unveiled next week, writes Joey Gardiner. Building understands that the Zero Carbon Task Group, headed by Barratt chief executive Mark Clare, will recommend that small or difficult sites be exempted from the highest levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes by paying a charge. This charge would be used to pay for equivalent carbon savings in other areas, such as improving the existing housing stock. The government has said that all homes must meet level six of the code - zero carbon - by 2016. Sources close to the task group said it would report that the challenges of reaching zero carbon are different for large, medium and small sites.