Energy comparison users 'unlikely to see zero carbon housing targets met' - 14/12/2010
Energy comparison customers and other potential homeowners are unlikely to witness the government achieve its target of making all new homes zero carbon by 2016, according to EC Harris.
Duncan Melville, partner at the consultancy firm, noted that a weakened housing market combined with widespread redundancies in the construction sector means there is a danger that targets will not be met.
He added there is a concern that the extra pressure of low carbon targets could "disincentivise" house building at a time when such activity is depleted.
"We have got a challenge here between trying to support the additional housing which is needed, versus making sure it is sustainable with the aspirations that we have set ourselves," he pointed out.
While the government's targets are "technically achievable", there are "significant challenges" to meeting them, due to limited access to mortgage finances and minimal access to affordable land, Mr Melville added.
His comments follow the publication of a report from Forum for the Future, which suggested ways in which sustainable cities can be built by 2040.
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