Paul King to lead housebuilders towards zero carbon with new group

An independent body has been set up to guide homebuilders towards the government’s zero carbon building targets and cut out industry confusion.

Chaired by UK Green Building Council chief executive Paul King, the Zero Carbon Hub will aim to make the government’s zero carbon building targets a reality.

In its first six months it has pledged to deliver a programme on how to meet the zero carbon targets and start identifying exemplar buildings to guide smaller housebuilders.

National House-Building Council general manager Neil Jefferson has been appointed chief executive, while the board will consist of representatives from the Department of Communitites and Local Government, Home Builders Federation, Construction Products Association and Local Government Association.

It will report to housing minister Caroline Flint’s 2016 Zero Carbon Task Force.

Mr Jefferson said the group would co-ordinate industry efforts to meet the government’s targets to build zero carbon homes by 2016.

He said: “There are many organisations already active in the delivery of zero carbon homes but there is significant risk of overlap in some areas and important gaps in others.

“It is vital that we rapidly development an overall programme and time line to co-ordinate effort across all sectors and track progress.”