A body could be set up to promote and develop community power generation infrastructure under plans from the Zero Carbon Task Group.

The body would spend money raised by the Community Energy Fund. The task group proposecd that some developers should be allowed to pay into the CEF in lieu of generating all their own energy.

Presenting the findings of the task group this week, Paul King, the chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, said it was still an open question how the money would be administered, but it was possible a body could be set up to spend the cash.

He said: “This could be a significant shot in the arm for community energy generation. It’s also an exciting opportunity to cut emissions from the existing housing stock.”

Neil Cutland, executive director of low carbon housing at Inbuilt, said a “credible” and “independent” body should be created to oversee the fund.