Housing slump no excuse to ditch sustainable targets ...

The housing slump is no excuse for failing to deliver energy efficient properties, English Partnerships chairman Robert Napier warned house builders this week.

Napier said: "We have experienced housing cycles before and today's problems are neither a reason, nor an excuse to sidestep the drive for quality and a low-carbon future."

He said the government showed no sign of weakening its ambitious agenda to have all new housing built to zero-carbon standards by 2016.

Napier added: "Indeed they have indicated that they will extend zero carbon to commercial buildings by 2019.

"Our industry has to meet the challenge of zero carbon by 2016 and needs to develop its ability to adapt, adopt and integrate environmental standards, if it is to achieve long-term profitability."

Napier dismissed housebuilders' concerns about the cost of delivering zero-carbon rated homes.

He said: "I accept there are higher upfront build costs, but the trialling and testing of new technologies will drive these costs down. Costs will also be offset by lower running costs."

Napier highlighted Barratt's Hanham Hall scheme - the first of the government's Carbon Challenge sites.

He said: "There are some companies that get it already, like Barratt, and others that will have to be dragged along."