Sustainability of the built environment

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 25 Mar 2021 Closed: 26 Jan 2023 Parliament page
This inquiry will examine the sustainability of the built environment. It will look at the best routes to net zero for our future building needs from low carbon materials through to policies to minimise the whole life carbon impact of new buildings. Read the call for evidence for more detail … Read more
29 Recommendations
19 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
2 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
27 Oct
2022
Correspondence
30 Sep
2022
Report published
30 Sep
2022
Correspondence
26 May
2022
Report published
19 Jan
2022
Oral evidence
19 Jan
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
17 Nov
2021
Oral evidence
17 Nov
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
20 Oct
2021
Oral evidence
20 Oct
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
14 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
14 Jul
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
19 Jan 2022
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Adam Mactavish · Currie & Brown Alexia Laird · Landsec Catherine Adams · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Damitha Adikaari · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Eddie Hughes · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities The Lord Callanan · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
17 Nov 2021
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Dr Joe Jack Williams · Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Elaine Toogood · MPA The Concrete Centre Louisa Bowles · LETI (London Energy Transformation Initiative) Michael H. Ramage · Centre for Natural Material Innovation, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge Rhian Williams · Greater London Authority Sam Liptrott · OFR Consultants, Fire and Risk Consultants Will Arnold · The Institution of Structural Engineers
20 Oct 2021
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Caterina Brandmayr · Green Alliance Dr Alice Moncaster · The Open University Dr Alice Owen · University of Leeds Dr Jannik Giesekam · University of Strathclyde Peter Conboy · igloo Regeneration Ltd Robert Lambe · Chartered Institute of Building
14 Jul 2021
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Dr Danielle Densley Tingley · The University of Sheffield Dr Tia Kansara · Kansara Hackney Ltd Emily Huynh · UK Green Building Council Jane Anderson · The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) Ms Phoebe MacDonald · Royal Institute of British Architects The Rt Hon. the Lord Deben · Climate Change Committee
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First report - Building to net zero: costing carbon in construct… HC 103 26 May 2022 48 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
14 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
We recommend that Ministers immediately assign responsibility to the relevant member of the BEIS Departmental...
We recommend that Ministers immediately assign responsibility to the relevant member of the BEIS Departmental Board to monitor international policy developments in embodied carbon, with a remit to feed observations into the development of UK policy on embodied and whole-life … Read more
Government Response
BEIS is already leading the UK involvement in the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI), an international alliance that aims to create markets for low carbon industrial materials, and is planning a roadmap on guidance for harmonisation of product level embodied carbon disclosure and on carbon limits.
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12 Conclusion Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
The National Model Design Code represents a good start to the task of improving efficiency...
The National Model Design Code represents a good start to the task of improving efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of materials used in construction. Regrettably, in its current form it does not provide the ambition or detailed guidance necessary … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the National Model Design Code encourages local councils to set design standards, develop policies that consider the assessment whole life costs and implement sustainable construction, focusing on reducing embodied energy and embedding circular economy principles, and should be read as part of the National Design Guide.
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14 Conclusion Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
We welcome the Government’s investment in the development of low-carbon cements as set out in...
We welcome the Government’s investment in the development of low-carbon cements as set out in the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy. Alongside research and development, more needs to be done to raise awareness of low-carbon cements within the industry and amongst the … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights the publication of the Low Carbon Concrete Routemap, a comprehensive guide to reducing carbon emissions associated with the construction industry developed through collaboration by a wide range of independent experts.
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15 Recommendation Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy should invest in raising awareness within the...
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy should invest in raising awareness within the industry and amongst the public on the existence and benefits of low-carbon cement and continue to encourage research and development into new low-carbon products. Read more
Government Response
BEIS is working with the Green Construction Board, the wider membership of the Construction Leadership Council and the ICE to promote the Low Carbon Concrete Routemap to industry, and outlines the recommendations for clients, designers, contractors and suppliers.
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17 Conclusion Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
The reuse of steel components is not yet common practice in the UK.
The reuse of steel components is not yet common practice in the UK. One of the main barriers to steel reuse is the collection, storage, testing and certification of used steel components. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy … Read more
Government Response
BEIS is continuing progress on providing the sector with support to decarbonise, which includes support provided through the increase of the EII compensation scheme, funding steel projects through programmes such as the Industrial Fuel Switching competition, and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
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19 Recommendation Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
The Government should work with local authorities to investigate effective and appropriate ways to store...
The Government should work with local authorities to investigate effective and appropriate ways to store and catalogue steel components for reuse and to communicate the availability of components across local area networks of constructors prepared to reuse steel. Read more
Government Response
The Government has worked with steel producers and major customers to encourage the development and use of digital information about steel products, to support the use of ‘Object Libraries’ and other digital design tools that accelerate the design of projects, and continues to support the use of BIM technologies.
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21 Conclusion Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
The post-Grenfell prohibition on the use of combustible materials in external walls has had a...
The post-Grenfell prohibition on the use of combustible materials in external walls has had a disproportionate impact on the use, innovation and testing of structural timber. Material safety perceptions have also affected the availability and cost of insurance, making it … Read more
Government Response
The Government has kept the outright ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of new blocks of flats, hospitals, and student accommodation over 18 metres, and introduced statutory guidance for residential buildings between 11 metres and 18 metres (to commence on 1 December 2022).
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24 Recommendation Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
In response to this report, Government should set out how its strategies to develop green...
In response to this report, Government should set out how its strategies to develop green jobs will address the need for skills in timber use in construction.
Government Response
The cross-government and industry timber in construction working group will design a policy roadmap, with education and skills within the timber in construction sector being a key element. The Government will work with industry to co-ordinate and increase sharing of best practice for skills in timber in construction.
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25 Recommendation Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
The Government must invest now in further research and safety testing on the use of...
The Government must invest now in further research and safety testing on the use of structural timber. The outcome of such research must inform a review of all relevant building regulations so as to render them properly applicable to modern … Read more
Government Response
The government has committed to encouraging research into barriers to uptake of timber in construction, including looking at timber strength grades and the fire resistance of engineered timber structures. The government also published its response to the combustibles ban consultation in June.
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37 Recommendation Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
We recommend that the Government bring forward legislative proposals, by amending the Procurement Bill if...
We recommend that the Government bring forward legislative proposals, by amending the Procurement Bill if necessary, so as to require a whole-life carbon assessment to be produced as a condition of participation in any tender for publicly financed building projects. … Read more
Government Response
Contracting Authorities are already able to request a whole-life carbon assessment during the procurement process where relevant and proportionate, and this will remain the case after rules reform.
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44 Conclusion Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
A lack of consumer awareness regarding retrofitting solutions, the perception that retrofit work is costly...
A lack of consumer awareness regarding retrofitting solutions, the perception that retrofit work is costly and/or disruptive, and consumer mistrust in the retrofit sector’s ability to deliver quality housing solutions, is creating further barriers to investment in retrofit. In our … Read more
Government Response
The Government acknowledges the cost of living pressures and highlights existing support packages. They claim to be stimulating demand for retrofit through direct investment, VAT reduction, strengthening minimum energy performance standards, supporting green finance, and improving consumer understanding, and outline existing quality assurance mechanisms.
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45 Recommendation Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
We recommend that the Government work with industry to increase consumer awareness of the environmental...
We recommend that the Government work with industry to increase consumer awareness of the environmental and monetary benefits of high-quality retrofit solutions with a view to increasing the uptake of retrofit work in line with the net zero trajectory and … Read more
Government Response
The government states they are working to review and improve communications to ensure that consumers have access to the information and advice they need to make retrofit decisions. They mention the Simple Energy Advice Service (SEA) and a new heat pump online calculator.
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46 Conclusion Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
The present shortage of workers in the energy efficiency and retrofit sector is chronic, given...
The present shortage of workers in the energy efficiency and retrofit sector is chronic, given the overall timetable for decarbonisation of properties. This is a point we have repeatedly emphasised in our recent reports. Significant skills gaps also exist in … Read more
Government Response
The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has spent almost £6 million on a skills training competition which delivered around 7000 training opportunities for the energy efficiency and low carbon heating supply chains and are developing options for further funding. The Government also previously provided £4.7 million of funding to six local supply chain demonstration pilots.
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47 Recommendation Accepted
First report - Building to net zer…
We reiterate our recommendation to develop a retrofit strategy and up-skilling programme for construction to...
We reiterate our recommendation to develop a retrofit strategy and up-skilling programme for construction to meet the needs of net zero. This should be published before the 2022 summer recess.
Government Response
The government asserts that they agree with the committee and highlights the Green Jobs Delivery Group, the Department for Education's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, free Level 3 qualifications for adults, and the Green Apprenticeships Advisory Panel (GAAP) to work with employers to align apprenticeships to net zero objectives as already covering this.
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Government Response AI assessment · 48 of 29 classified
Accepted 14
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 20
Deferred 8
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 2
Total 29 recs + 19 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
27 Oct 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Local Government, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, dated 18 October 2022
Parliament page
30 Sep 2022 Chair to Secretaries of State BEIS and LUHC re: Sustainability of the built environment Government Response
Parliament page