Energy minister Andrea Leadsom has broken the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s silence on the cancelled Zero Carbon Homes initiative, labelling it “an obstacle” to solving the UK’s housing crisis.
Leadsom was giving evidence before the energy and climate change select committee earlier today and was questioned by committee chair Angus Macneil on the emergence of possible replacement policies for those that have been axed in recent months.
But while Leadsom confirmed that DECC was working “flat out” on a number of policies, she would not be drawn on whether or not an alternative to the Zero Carbon Homes initiative would be forthcoming, stating that it would be a “difficult decision” to enforce such a policy considering the UK’s “essential” need for new homes.
Leadsom was however more confident on other energy efficiency policies, which she expected would be forthcoming after the autumn spending review and would look to give consumers “more power” over energy efficiency measures.
The minister also added that she remained confident of the UK meeting its ambitious smart meter rollout target but did admit that some companies are “vastly” ahead of others with their respective deployment.
