Government fails its own sustainability targets

The report by the National Audit Office (NAO) says that in a sample of projects looked at, 80% would not have met the required standard. It was critical of the government’s fragmented and incoherent approach to sustainability and its failure to assess the cost and benefits of more sustainable approaches as well as its lack of rigorous post-occupancy reviews.

Department staff were also criticised for their lack of expertise in sustainable policies and for not reviewing projects to see if they could be more environmentally friendly.

Departments and agencies spend around £3 billion building and refurbishing government properties each year. Among the NAO’s recommendations are that the bodies with responsibility for sustainability in construction – including Defra and the OGC – should make expertise available to all departments. It also calls for the promotion of low cost approaches for use in smaller construction and refurbishment projects and advice on when it is appropriate to undertake environmental assessments.

Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, said: “The report highlights a continuing failure by departments to consider the long-term value of sustainability in their new builds and refurbishments. This is particularly disappointing given the importance of sustainability in promoting a deeper understanding of value for money.

The report comes at the same time as environment secretary David Miliband called for swift and decisive action on climate change. His comments follow the publication of the provisional 2006 greenhouse gas emissions figures by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He said that: “While the increase in 2006 was due mainly to unusually high international gas prices leading to a switch to coal in electricity generation, the statistics demonstrated the clear need for continued action by all levels of government, business and individuals”.