HBA: government's quest for zero carbon homes 'deluded'

The House Builders Association (HBA) has branded the government 'deluded' in its pursuit of zero carbon homes.

The industry body has accused the government of having “no idea” when it signed up to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016.

HBA strategic policy advisor Roger Humber called for a broader industry coalition to set more workable goals that allow housebuilders to use renewable energy.

He said: “Neither Yvette Cooper nor the industry’s leaders had the remotest idea what they meant when they first signed up to delivering zero carbon by 2016.

“It is now increasingly obvious that unless the definition of zero carbon is radically amended, it will require the generation of renewable energy - on site or locally - at levels that will be impossible to supply on most sites.”

He said projects to build homes to varying levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes “delude ministers and make rods for the backs of everyone else in the industry.”

Mr Humber called for the government to encourage wider use of offsite renewables.