黑洞社区

The previous government鈥檚 leading adviser on green schools has joined a growing chorus of opposition to moves by the Department for Education to drop sustainability requirements on new schools.

Robin Nicholson, chairman of the previous government鈥檚 Zero Carbon Schools Task Force, has written to education secretary Michael Gove urging the government not to not scrap BREEAM requirements on schools - a move 黑洞社区 understands is being considered by the Department for Education.

His intervention from Paul King, UK Green 黑洞社区 Council chief executive and Peter Young, Aldersgate Group chairman, to ministers this week.

Nicholson said that while 鈥渇ew would defend to the last letter鈥� the BREEAM regime was 鈥渇ar from being a major burden鈥�.

He called for the government to reconvene a meeting of the Zero Carbon Schools Task Force 鈥渟o we can explain to you and your officials how Energy and Carbon Savings can be made at little or no additional cost to prepare your estate for a more sustainable future鈥�.

He added: 鈥淭he construction industry has responded pretty well to [the BREEAM] challenge, as it usually does鈥�BREEAM Excellent has delivered significant carbon savings at next to no cost.

鈥淪o please do not abandon BREEAM until there has been a full review of its impact and the key elements relocated.鈥�

The earlier letter from UK GBC and the Aldersgate Group, which was also copied to the prime minister, the deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and five other cabinet ministers, said the move to drop the BREEAM requirement for schools was 鈥渄eeply concerning鈥� and would send a 鈥渢errible message鈥� to the UK construction industry.

The Department for Education said it was still considering recommendations made in the James Review, which singled out the BREEAM regulations for criticism, citing the excessive burden of regulation and guidance in procurement and high costs for carrying out pre-assessment of BREEAM for schools.

鈥淲e will respond shortly,鈥� a DfE spokesperson said.