黑洞社区

Construction firms have voiced fears they could be hit by a 鈥渟tealth tax鈥� on core software used to measure the green performance of buildings.

The Department for Communities and Local Government [DCLG] last month unveiled plans to charge software manufacturers up to 拢16,000 to validate green building software, a service the government previously offered for free.

The manufacturers claim they were not consulted about the charges and were notified just 12 days before their intended implementation date.

The software affected includes all programs used to calculate building energy performance under the EU鈥檚 Energy Performance of 黑洞社区s Directive.

This includes software used to calculate building performance for Part L, Energy Performance Certificates and Display Energy Certificates.

But software manufacturer Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) told 黑洞社区 DCLG officials had admitted in a meeting with the firm last week that the department was planning to postpone implementation of the charges for at least six months in response to opposition from the industry.

IES said it would have no choice but to pass on some of the costs of the charges if they came into force. The firm said the charges would have cost the firm 拢260,000 last year if they had been in effect.

One construction consultant said the proposed 鈥渟tealth tax鈥� could damage the the low carbon economy and 鈥渄rive practices such as ours [鈥�] out of business鈥�.