CO2 Emissions In New Builds: A Moving Target

We follow our last blog with a summary of changes to the Building Regulations as discussed by Kate Wansbrough-Jones at the Olswang 2014 Construction law Conference.

When the Government announced its plans in 2006 to make new-build homes in England zero-carbon by 2016, there were mutterings that the target was unachievable. Now, over seven years on, 'zero-carbon' still seems a long way off.

Last year's Housing Standards Review recommended the winding down of the Code for Sustainable Homes putting the focus on the Building Regulations as a primary source of buildings emissions legislation. This puts added pressure on the consultation on amendments to Part L of the Regulations (which governs thermal efficiency standards) to bear green fruit.