The government’s target for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016 is “unrealistic” according to the Knight Frank ’Green Homes 2010’ study into the impact of zero carbon requirements on the housebuilding industry.
This report confirms a general disappointment with the lack of policy direction provided over the last few years which is coupled with “a more worrying concern” over the impact that the zero carbon homes agenda is having on the ability of the sector to raise its development volumes of new homes produced.
40% of those who responded to the survey said they believed that the absence of a firm definition of zero carbon had contributed to reducing the development volumes. This was over and above the reduction attributed to the impact of the credit crunch and current recession crisis.
Over 80% believed that the ambition for mandatory zero carbon residential development from 2016 is not compatible with a significant growth in development volumes.
The study also reveals that respondents believe build costs will rise 22% in the shift from Code level 4 to level 6 homes.
Of course, some of this increase in costs could be offset by a premium on the sale value of Code level 6 homes. The report indicated that there was a feeling that the premium was limited and respondents do expect land values to fall, sale prices to rise and quality and specification to decline.
However, despite these concerns Knight Frank says there is some evidence of housebuilders and developers taking clear steps to prepare for the 2016 target.
Over 70% had either implemented, or were planning to implement solar renewables and many were using or planning to use Passivhaus standards of insulation and thermal efficiency as well as install biomass and district heating systems.
David Jones, Editor-in-Chief of CDM2007.org is concerned to note the report indicates a probable decline in quality and hopes this is not also indicative of a lowering of site safety standards too! "there MUST be no compromise in safety standards through lack or resources to provide safe systems of work" ...
Ed.
