Local authorities and cities should take the lead in supporting the delivery of sustainable new homes and communities, a sustainable development charity says.
The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) today published a new paper proposing a key leadership role for cities and local authorities in supporting sustainable development in their local areas.
It notes the Government has scaled back its ambitions for zero carbon and sustainable new homes in recent years. As evidence of this, it points to the scrapping of the Zero Carbon 2016 target and the winding down of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
The paper argued councils could take the lead in improving the standards of new-build housing in their areas by, for example, requiring higher building standards on their own land, using tools like Open Book Viability, and running energy companies.
It also highlighted some areas where devolution deals could help promote sustainable development. Cities could develop spatial plans for the whole area, work with industry to develop standards for higher quality homes, and bring budgets together to tackle health and housing issues holistically.
‘In the current policy landscape, with ambition in sustainable housing at a national level falling short, it is vital we consider how local and city authorities can play a leadership role,’ Julie Hirigoyen, chief executive, UK-GBC.
‘This is the only way we will meet our stretching carbon reduction targets and deliver genuinely sustainable places.
‘This paper proposes that cities should learn from existing best practices in respect of planning and design tools, and drive up sustainability standards for housing on their own land.
‘It also suggests advocating for new powers under devolution, which would enable them to work in partnership with industry to raise the bar for new-build housing in their jurisdiction. We look forward to the views of stakeholders on our proposals.’
