The government has quietly revised its plans to make ‘Starter Homes’ exempt from the zero carbon policy.
The green sector had reacted furiously to proposals debuted back in September by Prime Minister David Cameron that would have seen 100,000 new Starter Homes exempt from a “raft of taxes” which included the zero carbon policy.
However, the government’s latest consultation on Starter Homes makes no mention of the previously proposed exemption.
Reacting to the news, John Alker, director of policy and communications at the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), said: “Dropping the zero carbon exemption for Starter Homes is a welcome climb-down. It appears Government has listened to concerns, seen sense, and stuck to its guns on the policy for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016.
“We should not have to compromise between the quantity and quality of new homes in the UK, and by adhering to the zero carbon standard, first time buyers will enjoy homes that are of a better quality, and with significantly cheaper energy bills.”
The UKGBC recently expressed frustration at the “mother of all missed opportunities” by the government to not link energy efficiency and stamp duty following George Osborne’s Autumn Statement revisions to stamp duty.
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