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
20 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
There is no Government policy requiring the assessment or control of embodied carbon emissions from...
There is no Government policy requiring the assessment or control of embodied carbon emissions from buildings. As a result, no progress has been made in reducing these emissions within the built environment. This inaction remains despite the built environment making … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the lack of policy and highlights existing decarbonisation strategies and the intention to explore a maximum embodied carbon level for new buildings.
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2 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
A broad cross-section of the construction industry is willing and able to undertake whole-life carbon...
A broad cross-section of the construction industry is willing and able to undertake whole-life carbon assessments. In the absence of an approved UK national methodology, the RICS Professional Statement on WLC is used as the accepted industry methodology for WLC … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that a standardized method of calculation is required to consistently assess embodied carbon, and will look at whether Government endorsement of specific standards, methodologies or tools for assessing whole life carbon is appropriate.
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3 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy is currently considering the possibility of funding...
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy is currently considering the possibility of funding an update of the RICS methodology. This update is intended to make the methodology more accessible and more transparent thus addressing the concerns raised by … Read more
Government Response
The government understands the importance of a consistent methodology for reporting whole-life carbon and welcomes plans to update and expand the RICS Professional Statement, with government officials continuing to contribute to this activity.
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4 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
The UK is slipping behind comparator countries in Europe in monitoring and controlling the embodied...
The UK is slipping behind comparator countries in Europe in monitoring and controlling the embodied carbon in construction. If the UK continues to drag its feet on embodied carbon, it will not meet net zero or its carbon budgets. There … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges that some countries in Europe have started legislating whole life carbon assessments and will review the different methodologies employed by these countries, and monitor the impact of their implementation, to help inform future policy-making.
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5 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
Local authorities are mandating WLC assessments of their own accord.
Local authorities are mandating WLC assessments of their own accord. Evidence so far shows that the policy is achievable and is working, with few barriers to its introduction. Introducing mandatory WLC assessments for buildings could be an easy way for … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges calls for a clearer timeline for mainstreaming assessment, management, and reduction of embodied carbon, stating they are engaging with stakeholders, watching the GLA's requirements, and looking at international policy examples to build a robust evidence base.
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11 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
In our view, the RICS Professional Statement on whole-life carbon assessments is fit for use...
In our view, the RICS Professional Statement on whole-life carbon assessments is fit for use and already familiar to UK industry. We recommend that, as soon as possible following promulgation of the planned update of the Statement, the Government should … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of a standardised method of calculation for assessing embodied carbon and commends industry for developing standards like BS EN 15978, PAS2080 and the RICS Professional Statement. The government will look at whether endorsement of specific standards, methodologies or tools for assessing whole life carbon is appropriate.
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16 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
We recommend that the Government investigate possible ways, beyond public procurement, to incentivise the use...
We recommend that the Government investigate possible ways, beyond public procurement, to incentivise the use of low-carbon cement to ensure that these cement alternatives become the product type of choice by 2030. This should include an assessment of the feasibility … Read more
Government Response
The Government will work with manufacturers through the GCB to understand the opportunities and barriers to decarbonise cement manufacture, as well as individual manufacturer plans, for policy development.
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18 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
Mandating whole-life carbon assessments for buildings, as we have already recommended, would be a simple,...
Mandating whole-life carbon assessments for buildings, as we have already recommended, would be a simple, material neutral way of encouraging the greater reuse and recycling of steel components.
Government Response
The government acknowledges that WLCAs may increase awareness of recycling and reuse rates, and states they would like to increase their understanding of the potential impact through further evidence gathering.
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20 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
Significant obstacles to the uptake of timber products in construction remain.
Significant obstacles to the uptake of timber products in construction remain. These include issues regarding fire risk and insurance, price volatility, securing sustainable and local supply chains, and addressing skills gaps in the use of timber. The Government has made … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the obstacles to timber uptake and highlights the establishment of a Timber in Construction Working Group to design a policy roadmap, expected by the end of 2023.
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22 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
Whilst timber is often the most appropriate material to use to lower the embodied carbon...
Whilst timber is often the most appropriate material to use to lower the embodied carbon of a building project, it cannot be assumed that this will always be the case. Timber use, from appropriate sources, should be verified as the … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of a whole life carbon approach when using timber in construction and encourages the industry to use the most appropriate low carbon materials and to produce efficient low-carbon designs. They also state that the Timber in Construction Working Group will consider how to sustainably increase timber supply to meet increased demand.
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26 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
There is a lack of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) data for a wide range of...
There is a lack of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) data for a wide range of materials, limiting the ability of developers to choose low-carbon materials. The UK is falling behind European counterparts where EPD data is far more widely available, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the lack of EPD data and highlights the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy and the Call for Evidence to develop policy proposals for low emissions industrial products, with a consultation planned by the end of 2022.
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27 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
The Government should encourage development of a centralised national database of EPDs and, through its...
The Government should encourage development of a centralised national database of EPDs and, through its own procurement practices require the collection and publication of EPDs. The EPD database should be digital, freely available to end users, and user-friendly. Read more
Government Response
The government is considering evidence from a Call for Evidence on how an emissions reporting system should be designed and implemented, and is participating in the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI), which encourages the use of consistent reporting standards. The IDDI launched an emissions disclosure pledge at COP26.
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28 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
To limit ‘greenwashing’, the Government should introduce measures requiring suppliers who wish to make an...
To limit ‘greenwashing’, the Government should introduce measures requiring suppliers who wish to make an environmental claim about a construction product to produce an EPD to substantiate it. (Paragraph 164) Building to net zero: costing carbon in construction 69 Read more
Government Response
The government is aware of measures in other jurisdictions that put an obligation on manufacturers to substantiate environmental claims and is considering this as it prepares to consult on a range of domestic measures, including emissions reporting and disclosure, by the end of 2022.
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31 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
In our view, the most effective way overall to encourage resource efficiency and the development...
In our view, the most effective way overall to encourage resource efficiency and the development and use of low-carbon materials, whether low-carbon concrete, steel, timber, or any other material, is to establish a mandatory requirement to measure whole-life carbon and … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the important role that measuring whole-life carbon can play. They state that they will consult on their approach and proposals to mainstream the measurement and management of embodied carbon in 2023.
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32 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
The Government should also issue its response to the consultation on the draft Waste Prevention...
The Government should also issue its response to the consultation on the draft Waste Prevention Programme for England: Towards a Resource-Efficient Economy not later than the date the House rises for the 2022 summer recess. This will be over a … Read more
Government Response
The new Waste Prevention Programme is being revised following consultation in 2021, and publication is expected later in 2022. There will be further engagement on individual policies set out in the Programme.
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33 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
The Government has committed to using public procurement to drive demand for low-carbon industrial products...
The Government has committed to using public procurement to drive demand for low-carbon industrial products and expects whole-life carbon assessments to be undertaken in respect of all public works projects. The extent to which this expectation is met, and the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the lack of clarity and highlights the UK's work with the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI) to establish common principles for whole life carbon and reporting of public construction.
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38 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
Retrofit and reuse of existing buildings, where practicable, should be prioritised over new build to...
Retrofit and reuse of existing buildings, where practicable, should be prioritised over new build to conserve resources, minimise embodied carbon emissions, reduce demolition waste and deliver cost-effective solutions to delivering on housing demand. Local authorities and housing developers are expected … Read more
Government Response
The government reiterates its commitment to upgrading homes to EPC Band C by 2035 where practical and has committed £6.6 billion to support upgrading the energy efficiency of existing homes, while also mentioning permitted development rights and their review.
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40 Conclusion Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
We welcome the steps taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to address the inequity...
We welcome the steps taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to address the inequity in the VAT regime between new build and retrofit. We nevertheless note that this differential treatment will expire in 2027 and is limited in scope, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the VAT inequity and highlights existing reduced VAT rates for certain residential renovations. Extending this to all property renovations would cost £3.75 billion per year.
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41 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
We recommend that Ministers evaluate the impact of the time-limited zero- rate of VAT for...
We recommend that Ministers evaluate the impact of the time-limited zero- rate of VAT for the installation of certain Energy Saving Materials well before its expiry date of 2027, with a view to extending the provision beyond 2027 if it … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of ESMs, but states that further changes to VAT would require careful consideration and consultation to ensure value for money and prevent unintended behavioral effects, in the context of over £50 Billion of requests for relief from VAT received since the EU referendum.
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48 Recommendation Acknowledged
First report - Building to net zer…
Alongside a mandatory requirement to undertake whole-life carbon assessments and a national methodology for assessments,...
Alongside a mandatory requirement to undertake whole-life carbon assessments and a national methodology for assessments, the Government should make training 72 Building to net zero: costing carbon in construction in undertaking whole-life carbon assessments accessible across all levels of education … Read more
Government Response
The government is reforming the skills system to create more routes into skilled employment and employers are at the heart of these reforms. They are using existing programmes to support construction skills and working alongside industry to ensure that their existing skills programmes can be directed to support the net zero agenda.
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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