Social housing has green advantage

The social housing sector is a long way ahead of volume housebuilders when it comes to building environmentally sustainable homes, according to outgoing group director of Harvest Housing Group, Kim Penfold.

Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing's annual conference in Harrogate last week, Penfold said: "We know how to produce housing that is thermally efficient, but we produce an infinitesimal proportion of the new build output. We need the housebuilders to do it as well.

"It's an extra cost and they think there's customer resistance, but I'm not convinced. I think government should set a faster pace, make it happen and by making it happen, that extra cost will be reduced," he said.