黑洞社区

An intensive programme of work has started to finalise a definition of zero carbon homes as quickly as possible, despite last week鈥檚 decision by the housing minister to cut funding to the body designed to implement it.

The housing industry and environmental lobby have both raised serious concerns over both the decisions to cut funding for the Zero Carbon Hub and to rush out a definition of the standard housebuilders will have to meet from 2016.

Last week Grant Shapps, the housing minister, wrote to the Zero Carbon Hub, the industry-government body charged with delivering the move to new-build carbon neutral homes, to say the government would seek to stop its subsidy, which is about 拢500,000, once a definition of the standard had been agreed. He also reiterated his pledge to finalise the definition 鈥渨ithin weeks鈥�.

The Home Builders Federation has written to Shapps to express its concern over the proposed funding cut. Neil May, chair of the Good Homes Alliance, a sustainable housing body, said: 鈥淭he cut in funding could be quite harmful. There鈥檚 a real danger we鈥檒l all end up back in the situation where the housebuilding industry and the environmental lobby are at loggerheads.鈥� WWF, the environmental charity, also said it was concerned about the move.

Since Shapp鈥檚 letter, officials have worked with the Hub to arrive at a final definition by the end of the summer. The Hub itself has received assurances from officials that funding will not be cut immediately and that the minister is supportive of the body. Hub chief executive Neil Jefferson said in a statement he was鈥漹ery hopeful鈥� funding would continue at least till the end of the financial year in March.

The House Builders Association has voiced fears that Shapps鈥� desire for an early definition of Zero Carbon may lead to a weak definition that causes greater confusioon and jeopardises investment.