Zero carbon blackout

Justin Furness – CAB Technical Director

With one sentence in the recently published productivity plan (Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation), the government has apparently announced the end of the UK’s zero carbon buildings policy, originally launched some eight years ago. The report states: “The government does not intend to proceed with the zero carbon Allowable Solutions carbon offsetting scheme, or the proposed 2016 increase in on-site energy efficiency standards, but will keep energy efficiency standards under review, recognising that existing measures to increase energy efficiency of new buildings should be allowed time to become established.” While this has been widely interpreted to mean that the 2016 zero carbon homes target is being dropped, along with the 2019 target for non-domestic zero carbon buildings, and even that there will be no further changes to Part L in any form in 2016, there is certainly a need for more clarity. What role will Part L play in delivering nearly zero energy buildings from 2021 (and 2019 in the public sector), which the UK must build to meet the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive? Will regulations for new build and refurbishment of existing buildings now strike out on different paths?

No one can argue that we don’t desperately need more houses built in the UK or that a period for consolidation of the existing standards is a bad idea, with several different versions of Part L in play. This “pause” should also provide more time to hunt down that elusive beast, joined up government. Several departments have an important role to play in improving the overall design and performance of buildings. Energy efficiency and costs, ventilation, overheating, wellbeing and accessibility, to name just a few issues, are all closely interlinked, cutting across DCLG, BIS, DECC, Health and, ultimately, Treasury interests. The government is keen to enter into a dialogue with industry and we are ready to partake.

I hope you enjoy this month's issue'.

Tony Higgin
Publisher

This Month's News

GGF pledges to work with DECC on new plan after Green Deal

The Glass & Glazing Federation says it will work with the Government in seeking a new strategy on energy efficiency in the country’s homes following what amounts to the collapse of the Green Deal, as announced by Energy and Climate Change secretary Amber Rudd.

Today, GGF Group Chief executive Nigel Rees said the announcement came as no surprise, and reiterated that the Federation had consistently warned that the initiative would not work for the replacement window industry. He continued: “The GGF now looks forward to working with the current Government to ‘make new policy and build a system that works’ as outlined by Amber Rudd.

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Building boom endangered by skills shortage

Despite the fact that the building industry has been booming for more than two years, rising activity in the SME construction sector threatens to be undermined by the prevailing skills shortage, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Commenting on the results of the FMB’s Q2 2015 State of Trade Survey, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “There can be no doubt that the building industry is booming but the skills shortage continues to loom large over our industry. Almost half of construction SMEs are struggling to recruit adequate numbers of bricklayers, with others finding it increasingly hard to hire carpenters and joiners, site managers and supervisors. Looking ahead, our members are reporting that their workloads are likely to rise over the coming three months which means the shortage of skilled workers will only become more acute.

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Even more time to shine – G15 deadline extended

Still rushing to get your G15 Award nominations in on time? Don’t worry, you’re not alone, so the organisers have given you another week’s breathing space and pushed the deadline forward to July 31.

“We’ve had a fantastic response this year,” said G-Awards organiser Tony Higgin, “But we know it’s the start of the holiday season and lots of people have more on their desks than usual. Everyone deserves a chance to be recognised for their achievements so we want to make sure they get it.” But he warned: “This really is your last chance and it has to be our very final deadline so there’s still no time to lose”

Nominations can be submitted at www.g-awards.com and with twelve categories, from environment and training to products and promo, there is the chance for just about any company in any part of the industry to be recognised for their achievements.

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What next after the Green Deal? – FMB

The Government has been urged to replace the Green Deal with interest free loans for householders to make their homes more energy efficient.

The call came from Federation of Master Builders Chief Executive Brian Berry, who said the Government must set out a clear vision for what will replace the Green Deal following an announcement that the scheme has effectively been scrapped.

Berry was responding to the Government’s announcement that it will provide no further funding to the Green Deal Finance Company and the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, a move he said was “the final nail in the Green Deal’s coffin.”

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Architects confidence reaches new high

Architects’ confidence about their future workload reached a new high in June, according to the latest RIBA Future Trends Workload Index. A balance of 44% of practices expects their workload to rise over the next three months, up from 37% in May. Practices from all nations and regions in the UK anticipated an increase in workloads. Large practices (51+ staff) are the most optimistic about future work prospects (balance figure +71%); small practices (up to 10 staff and medium-sized practices (11 to 50 staff) were also positive with balanced of 42% and 47% respectively expecting their workloads to rise.

Practices from all nations and regions in the UK anticipated an increase in workloads. Large practices (51+ staff) are the most optimistic about future work prospects (balance figure +71%); small practices (up to 10 staff and medium-sized practices (11 to 50 staff) were also positive with balanced of 42% and 47% respectively expecting their workloads to rise.

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Lords Committee invites evidence on ‘acute housing shortages’

The new House of Lords Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment has today issued its call for written evidence.

Issues around housing and the built environment are a pressing concern in England, according to the Committee, with parts of the country facing acute housing shortages and an affordability crisis, while the legacy of poorly planned and designed developments can blight communities.

The Committee will seek to establish what steps can be taken to ensure better planning and design and whether we have the right balance between national policy and local accountability for planning decisions.

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