The government will not publish the consultation into how it is to define zero carbon until September at the earliest, as reported by BSJ’s sister publication, Building magazine.

The publication was expected to go ahead this summer, however in a response to a letter from Home Builders Federation chief executive Stewart Baseley, Housing Minister Caroline Flint said that the delay was down to “a number of complex issues that need to be addressed relating to technical, economic and wider policy considerations.”

While a government spokesman could confirm for BSJonline that the timescale was beyond the speculated date, he denied that there had been a delay.

“We haven’t pledged to do it on any particular date. There was speculation, and it was something that we were looking into, but it’s something that goes across Government and we have to take that into consideration.”

An announcement will be made following the Parliamentary recess.

The definition laid out by the consultation will impact on how housebuilders approach the 2016 zero carbon standard set for homes by Government.

Source

Building Sustainable Design