Green targets revealed in budget

In his first budget as Chancellor, Alistair Darling has said that all non-domestic buildings must be carbon neutral from 2019.

The news, which comes on top of existing goals to make all new build homes carbon neutral by 2016, received a mixed response from the industry. The British Property Federation told Construction News (CN) that the goal offered a great opportunity for the commercial property sector to make a ‘long-standing’ contribution to the green agenda. But many experts admitted the targets – designed to cut emissions by 75 million tonnes over the next 30 years – will be challenging to meet.

‘There needs to be a robust approach throughout the industry,’ said Jon Lovell, head of sustainability at property consultancy firm Driver Jonas. ‘A fundamental overhaul of the way energy is generated, supplied and used is also needed, ensuring that developers are enabled to properly achieve the new targets.'

Building magazine reported on Darling’s promise in the budget to define what ‘zero-carbon housing’ actually means. A working group from the UK Green Building Council, lead by Mark Clare, chief executive of Barratt, will consult on the definition over the summer and a final formulation should be ready by the end of the year. The promise is important because the Treasury currently insists that only homes that produce all their own energy qualify for zero carbon, but the industry wants zero-carbon homes to be able to utilise energy generated from off site renewable sources.

Building also reported on plans within the budget to fund a body to co-ordinate the move to zero carbon by 2016; plus a commitment for all homes built on public sector land to achieve at least level three of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

In related news, Contract Journal (CJ) reported that two more bidders have joined Barratt in walking away from English Partnership’s (EP) flagship carbon challenge project in Peterborough because the job’s too expensive. Social housing provider Cross Key Homes and contractor Galliford Try, and One Peterborough – a joint venture between Crest Nicholson, developer Bioregional Quintain and housing association Minister – have exited from the shortlist of six bidders for the EP challenge.

The development involves building 450 homes on a 7ha site, all be built to level six, the highest Code for Sustainable Homes. But it’s thought bidders are pulling out because EP wants them to treat the project as a research and development exercise, requiring the companies to put up more cash – a difficult proposal in the current weak market.