MP pushes amendment to give councils the power to enforce zero carbon standards on new homes

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has tabled an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which would give local councils and national park authorities the power to enforce zero carbon standards on new homes in their area.

Tim's proposal would bring forward the date that all new homes would have to meet the Government's standards for CO2 emissions (the Future Home Standard). His amendment would mean that all new homes would have to produce 75-80% lower CO2 emissions than homes that are currently being built - and those which have already been built - by 2023 rather than 2025.

However, Tim's amendment was defeated by 8 votes to 6, with every Conservative MP voting against.

Speaking in the Levelling Up Bill Committee, Tim said: "Most local authorities, certainly ours in Cumbria, are determined to ensure that new builds are built with zero-carbon specification, yet they are not allowed to. If they seek to enforce zero-carbon homes when it comes to insultation, heat pumps, solar panels or a variety of other mechanisms that will ensure there is literally a zero carbon footprint from that property, the developers can object if they think they will incur an unreasonable expense, and the council or planning authority are powerless to do anything about it. It is incredibly frustrating.

"This new clause is significant, as it will genuinely empower local authorities to do the right thing, which they desperately want to. It breaks the heart of councils of all political parties when they see what they need to do and are not allowed to enforce it. More importantly, it will do something to reduce energy costs and make a meaningful contribution to the battle against climate change. This is a really important clause, so I will seek to push it to a vote, because I think the Government have had plenty of time to take action of their own initiative over the last few years.

Responding, the Minister for Housing Lee Rowley said: "Although I completely understand the honourable gentleman's sentiments and applaud him for pushing us to move as fast as possible, it is reasonable and proportionate that the building sector and construction sector have the opportunity both to comment on how we do that, which is what a consultation will seek to do in due course, and to amend their working practices in order to get to a place where they are able to adhere to the standards in a way that ensures that we address the honourable gentleman's points and can continue to build the houses that we all want to see, so that our constituents can have good roofs over their heads."