Conservative plans to exempt 100,000 starter homes from the zero carbon standard have been lambasted by the UK Green Building Council, which has labelled the move “incredibly short-sighted”.
The prime minister today launched a new scheme that will give first-time buyers a 20% discount on purchasing a home. However, the homes will be sold for a lower cost because they are exempt from a range of obligations which includes the zero carbon home standard.
John Alker, director of policy and communications and acting CEO at the UK Green Building Council, said: “The Conservative plan to exempt starter homes from the zero carbon standard is incredibly short-sighted. For a minimal additional up front cost, zero carbon homes provide lower energy bills over their lifetime, and encourage the use of renewable energy locally.”
Alker concluded: “There would be a sad irony if these starter homes locked 100,000 first time buyers into a legacy of higher energy bills and poorer quality housing for years to come.”
