Low Carbon Framework
These documents are the main sources for the analysis of policy drivers, policy tools and standards which is set out in this guide.
Climate Change Action Programme 2006
The national policy and programme for low carbon homes is one component of the Government's Climate Change Action Programme 2006, which set out policies and priorities for action in the UK and internationally. The development of this programme has required new legislation. It also requires modifications to existing legislation and the way it is used, particularly in the areas of energy, housing, planning and the building regulations.
Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006
The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 placed an obligation on the government to report to Parliament on greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and action taken by Government to reduce these emissions.
Climate Change Bill
The Climate Change Bill will create a new approach to managing and responding to climate change by setting ambitious targets, taking powers to help achieve them and by strengthening the institutional framework for policy development and programme delivery. Crucially the Bill will introduce legally binding targets. The Climate Change Bill is the first of its kind in any country.
Currently these targets are to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 26-32% below 1990 levels by 2020 and to at least 60% by 2050.
These targets are the primary drivers of the Low Carbon Homes policies which are now embedded in the energy, housing and planning policies and legislation that provide the regulatory framework for housebuilding and retrofitting/rehabilitation in England.
In 2005, total UK C02 by 2020. emissions (measured in million tonnes - Mt) in 2005 were 556 CO2 . Emissions from the housing sector are about 27% of the total - 154Mt CO2 . If the housing sector is to deliver its proportionate share of the national target of reducing carbon emissions by 6O% of 1990 levels by 2050, its emissions would have to be cut from around 154Mt CO2 to around 62Mt CO2 - a target reduction of 92 Mt CO2 from existing levels.
Current policies focused on housing are projected to deliver a reduction of 44 Mt CO2 by 2020 and will clearly have to be further enhanced to reach the 60% target of 92 Mt CO2 by 2050.
Current policies focused on housing are projected to deliver a reduction of 44 Mt CO2 by 2020 and will clearly have to be further enhanced to reach the 60% target of 92 Mt CO2 by 2050.
In this context, the second half of 2007 saw the publication of a range of government policy documents and influential commentaries. These documents have established the initial framework for delivering low carbon homes and set the agenda for the further development of national policy over the next few years.
Building a Greener Future: Policy Statement
In July 2007 the Building a Greener Future: Policy Statement set out the government's current policies and programmes to reduce emissions from the existing housing stock and confirmed the Government's intention for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016. This is the key policy document for the low carbon homes policies and programmes.
This policy statement took account of the responses to a consultation document Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development - Consultation December 2006, which had sought views on the Government's proposals to reduce the carbon footprint of new housing development. The consultation document set out the Government's views on the importance of moving towards zero carbon in new housing. It explored the relationship between the evolving planning system, the Code for Sustainable Homes and Building Regulations in delivering the government's ambition for zero carbon. It also proposed a timetable for revising the Building Regulations so as to reach zero carbon development in all new housing by 2016.
Homes for the Future
Also in July 2007 the government produced the Housing Green Paper Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable which established the government's housebuilding target of 240,000 homes per annum by 2016, with a high priority for social housing. The aim is to deliver 2m new homes by 2016 and 3m by 2020. The policy of achieving zero carbon housing by 2016 was also set out in this document... This established the dual challenge for the industry - to substantially increase the volume of housing constructed, whilst at the same time radically improving the environmental standard achieved.
Callcutt Review of Housebuilding Delivery
The Callcutt Review of Housebuilding Delivery was published in November 2007. This was an independent report which looked at housebuilding from the housebuilder's point of view. It gave a generally positive assessment of the prospects for the industry delivering the government's targets. One of the most challenging aspects of the Review was to consider the increase in housebuilding alongside the government's ambition to be world class in the delivery of zero carbon housing by 2016. Chapter 9 Zero Carbon is one of the most useful appraisals to date of the challenges and prospects for meeting the zero carbon targets. In particular it presents an outline critical path to the delivery of zero carbon homes.
Home Truths: A Low Carbon Strategy to Reduce UK Housing Emissions by 80% by 2050
The University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute report by Brenda Boardman Home Truths: A Low Carbon Strategy to Reduce UK Housing Emissions by 80% by 2050 was also published in November 2007 and complements the Callcutt analysis... This is the definitive independent analysis of the challenges and prospects of for meeting the carbon emission reduction targets for the housing sector. The report argues that the government is not going far enough fast enough. Whilst supporting the target of achieving zero carbon homes it argues that government action to address the much bigger issue of reducing emissions from the existing housing stock needs a radical overhaul. The analysis and recommendations give a clear indication of what more the government may well have to do in order to meet an 80% reduction by 2050 - a target which is higher than current government targets, but what the scientific consensus agrees is now required.
Planning Policy Statement (PPS): Planning and Climate Change
On December 17th 2007 saw the simultaneous publication of the new Planning Policy Statement (PPS): Planning and Climate Change; Supplement to Planning Policy Statement 1
along with a consultation draft of another new PPS: Planning for Sustainable economic development http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/614685
The Minister emphasised that
‘economic growth and higher environmental standards must go hand in hand. We want the planning system to do more to promote jobs and economic growth, but to do so in a way that is environmentally sustainable and that helps cut carbon emissions. Equally, we want to ensure that the programme to cut carbon emissions should help support the jobs and homes we need for the future'
www.communities.gov.uk/statements/corporate/planningpolicystatements
The government wants the provision of Low Carbon Homes to go hand in hand with an increase in the house-building programme, so the new PPS
‘....sets out how regional and local planning can best support achievement of the zero-carbon targets along side community needs for economic and housing development' (p9) .
The new PPS firstly confirms the central role of planning in helping to achieve zero carbon homes by 2016, an approach which the government is soon to extend to non-domestic buildings. Secondly it is designed to help speed up the shift to renewable and low carbon energy by challenging local councils to do more to promote and support new provision by building on the Merton Rule and setting percentages of energy for new development to be generated from local renewable and low carbon sources.
