Inquiry tackles housing stock

The Communities and Local Government Select Committee set up the inquiry to look at what can be done to make housing stock more energy efficient and help meet UK targets for reducing carbon emissions.

Committee members were particularly interested in identifying ways of encouraging householders to make energy improvements to their homes and to find out why tried and tested technologies such as cavity wall and loft insulation have not had the uptake needed to make a significant impact.

CIBSE technical director Hywel Davies and Brian Mark of Fulcrum Consulting gave evidence to the committee on 19 November, supported by CIBSE director of policy Samantha McDonough and Andy Ford of Fulcrum Consulting.

CIBSE’s evidence covered how the Building Regulations could be used to improve existing housing stock.

The institution reminded the committee that proposals for consequential improvements to homes had been dropped from the 2006 changes to Part L of the Building Regulations.

The committee was keen to ensure renewable technologies could be incorporated into new homes and that suitably trained people would be there to ensure that happened.

CIBSE also gave evidence on the need for trained operatives to design and install renewable energy solutions. Discussions included energy performance certificates and competence schemes, particularly for Part L.

The session also covered mechanisms by which private and social housing could be improved, whether this should be “stick or carrot”, and the role of developers in improving existing housing stock near new developments.

Other witnesses called to give evidence to the inquiry included the Chartered Institute of Housing, the National Landlords Association, the RIBA and housing minister Yvette Cooper.