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I would dearly like to be excited by this prospect, but colleagues and I have recently been wrangling with the BRE about the Code for Sustainable Homes definition of zero-carbon homes. Not that the BRE are at fault here, but rather, the Treasury have ensured via the Draft Statutory Instrument that Code Level 6 will only recognise on-site or even on-dwelling renewable systems. So, the most cost-effective route for UK Plc, the investment by large developers in say an off-site wind farm is unlikely to be recognised. The word is that the Treasury only anticipated 500 flats to achieve zero-carbon status over five years, with a net loss of £7.5m stamp duty revenue and are now fearful of the loss of stamp duty receipts for a much greater number of dwellings. So unless these eco-towns are able to achieve true zero-carbon status from on-site or even near-site renewables via an ESCO including private wire power distribution (ignoring the 28 day rule and issues of demonstrable value for a long-term power supply contract), they are going to end up a pale imitation of the aspiration as the highest level of the Code is only going to be attainable for those projects that can afford to throw money at the south facing roof. I can't see this being applied on a large scale.