UK cancels zero carbon buildings policy

Calahonda52

Note, its the zero one, not the near zero policy,
from CIBSE
Chancellor announces end of zero carbon buildings policy

A section of the newly released Productivity Plan, an announcement of changes to the planning process released today, confirms that the Government is dropping the zero carbon buildings policy first announced in 2007.

As a result of this change, both the 2016 zero carbon homes target and the 2019 target for non-domestic zero carbon buildings will be dropped, and there will be no changes to Part L in any form during 2016.

The Productivity Plan states that the Government 'does not intend to proceed with the zero carbon Allowable Solutions carbon offsetting scheme, or the proposed 2016 increase in on-site energy efficiency standards, but will keep energy efficiency standards under review, recognising that existing measures to increase energy efficiency of new buildings should be allowed time to become established.'

Commenting on the announcement, Hywel Davies, CIBSE Technical Director, said: "This is not a huge surprise to me, because getting the changes to Part L that zero carbon needed was already looking challenging. It has been clear for some time that the offsetting elements of the Allowable Solutions scheme did not fulfil the requirements of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, under which the UK has to deliver nearly zero energy buildings from 2021 (and 2019 in the public sector).

"So now we do have the clarity that industry has been seeking. The next key target for Part L is nearly zero energy buildings, and we have to be ready to build them for the public sector by 1 January 2019. All we have to do is work out how."

the detail is buried here.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/443897/Productivity_Plan_print.pdf?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Chancellor+announces+end+of+zero+carbon+buildings+policy&utm_campaign=Chancellor+announces+end+of+zero+carbon+buildings+policy

Osborne would do Tom and Phil proud.:D

Poor Uncle Tom

Zero-carbon house built for budget of social housing build which will actually make money for the owner!!!!!!!!

http://www.bregsforum.com/2015/07/20/designers-create-the-impossible-zero-carbon-house-in-16-weeks-bbc-news/

It's as ugly as sin, but does it do what it says on the tin?

galwaytt

... I'm surprised it lasted this long tbh - the writing was on the wall from the Industry that the targets were completely incompatible with costs to meet them.

I know of one scheme of 4,000+ houses underway and a finished price for RSL market of......... £55/sq ft.... is completely incompatible with zero carbon targets.