No sooner do we raise the vexed issue of doing something to improve the sustainability credentials of our existing housing (and building) stock with the work being done at the BRE than the politicians get in on the act.
Another slapped wrist for the government, but what hope of them doing anything about it when all they're interested in is the Eco-Bling and fawning headlines surrounding the proposed creation of 'Eco-Towns'?. OK, so not all the headlines were fawning, but the government's mind seems made up (and it appears to have the planning system on its side, at least according to Stephen Turnbull, planning partner of law firm LG - "under the existing planning system the government has a host of weapons in its armoury and the Secretary of State has the final say on any challenge or appeal - so one way or another it's hard to see how anything can stop the government getting its own way over eco towns."). Eco-Bling or not, it doesn't take a PhD in political spin to know which this cuts more ice with the man on the Clapham omnibus than relagging his hot water cyclinder.
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