Minister pledges zero-carbon homes definition consultation 'shortly'

The Government expects to begin consultation on the final definition of zero-carbon homes shortly, planning minister Caroline Flint told the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.

The minister confirmed that the issue of how the zero-carbon definition dealt with on and offsite green generation remained the most challenging element of the form of words which would be consulted on.

The fringe meeting heard that Government-commissioned research into the zero-carbon target had highlighted problems over the availability of some of the key technologies and an estimate that the new standards could add between 17 and 24 per cent to the costs of a new home.

The conference also learnt that the standard would be significantly harder to achieve in high-density, urban infill schemes compared to more large-scale non infill projects.
 
Flint's comments were made at the final fringe meeting organised at the five-day conference. The minister also made it clear that the Government's eco-town programme was not meant to be the solution to the country’s housing problems.

She said none of the long shortlist of schemes would be "signed off" by her unless she "could hold my head up" over the green credentials of the project involved.

In a related development at the conference, ministers were put under pressure by microgeneration interests over delays in securing permitted development for air-source heat pumps and micro-wind turbines.

At issue were claims and counter-claims over the noise impact of wind turbines in particular, which some officials have argued could result in a significant number of statutory noise nuisance complaints.

The renewable companies have disputed the basis for this advice and have urged energy minister Malcolm Wicks to ignore what they insist is "distorted evidence" on the issues.

Roger Milne

25 September 2008