The conservation challenge
February 15th 2007

Communities and Local Government has recently set out reforms to the planning system through PPS3 which will help local authorities deliver more homes and better homes, with a particular focus on family homes. As a result, by 2050 about one-third of the housing stock will have been built between then and now.These new homes offer the opportunity to do things differently. We need to make sure that these new homes conform to the highest environmental standards, driving the development of new markets for environmental technologies.

The Code – an Introduction The Code for Sustainable Homes is a new national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. Any new home can be assessed against the Code – it includes criteria such as energy efficiency, use of sustainable materials, and waste management - and water efficiency – and homes can be awarded a ‘star rating’ as evidence of its performance.

The Code for Sustainable Homes builds upon EcoHomes – the existing voluntary sustainable rating system for new homes run by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). It includes some of important differences in response to the public consultation on the Code which closed in March 2006. These include new minimum standards at all levels of the Code for two of the key sustainability criteria – energy efficiency and water efficiency.

The Code – Responding to Consumer Demand The Code for Sustainable Homes offers consumer choice by providing them with information on the sustainability of new homes. And it offers homebuilders a way to respond to that consumer demand. A star rating under the Code for Sustainable Homes will demonstrate a home’s sustainability performance to a buyer, offering a tool by which homebuilders can differentiate themselves.

Responding to Climate Change – the Code as part of a ‘package’ of measures But the Code for Sustainable Homes cannot work alone. It is just one element that will support the shift.

We are consulting on ways in which we can make new homes and commercial buildings more water efficient. Protecting the long-term sustainability of this precious resource needs joined up action from Government, businesses, water companies and consumers. These proposals are not about cutting back on the essential water we need, but minimising the water we needlessly waste.These regulations will ensure that water efficiency becomes the norm in all new homes and workplaces.

We are also working with the Departments – the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships in particular – to drive innovation and develop exemplar schemes. All future English Partnership housing, and Housing Corporation funding for development will comply with Level 3 of the Code as a minimum, with incentives for developers to go even further. This represents the biggest ever single investment in efficient homes, and will create estimated savings of more than 40,000 tonnes of CO2 a year and over 2.5 million litres of water a day.

So,the new Code for Sustainable Homes is a landmark in the development of resource efficient and high quality homes and, working closely with other measures, will play a crucial role in the essential shift we must make towards more sustainable development. We have listened to views from a wide range of parties including housebuilders and environmental groups, and believe this is a workable set of detailed standards that developers can meet and from which householders,and society as a whole will benefit.

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