The decent homes standard should include tough new environmental requirements, according to the sustainable buildings taskforce.
A report it published on Tuesday set out a single environmental code that it believes all decent homes should meet.

If adopted, the code would be likely to lead to an increase in the number of homes considered non-decent. The decency standard concentrates on whether homes are insulated and 80% of homes that fail the standard do so because they aren't insulated well enough.

The taskforce's code sets standards for energy efficiency, water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, waste recycling and flood resilience.

The bulk of the report dealt with new homes. It called for 25% cuts in energy and water consumption and for 10% of building materials to be recycled.

Paul King, director of environmental charity World Wildlife Fund, said 95-99% of all homes currently don't reach these standards.

Sir John Harman, chairman of the Environment Agency and co-chair of the taskforce, said the code would add 1-2% to the price of development. But he added: "In this period of public spending-sponsored growth, homes must achieve the quality they didn't in the 1960s."

The government welcomed the report, but would not say if it would update the decent homes standard.

Source

Housing Today