Local government and the path to net zero

Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 10 Mar 2021 Closed: 24 Jan 2022 Parliament page
The aim of the inquiry is to scrutinise the government’s plans to make all new homes “zero carbon ready” by 2025, through the introduction of the Future Homes Standards, and to explore how local government can help the UK to reduce its carbon emissions to “net zero” by 2050, including … Read more
18 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
5 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
18 Jan
2022
Report published
29 Oct
2021
Report published
20 Sep
2021
Oral evidence
15 Sep
2021
Oral evidence
13 Sep
2021
Oral evidence
12 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
21 Jun
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
20 Sep 2021
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Oral Evidence
Eddie Hughes · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Emma Fraser · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Emma Fraser · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Ffiona Hesketh · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Siobhan Jones · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities The Lord Callanan · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
15 Sep 2021
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Oral Evidence
The Rt Hon. the Lord Deben · Climate Change Committee
13 Sep 2021
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Oral Evidence
Cllr Peter Schwier · Essex County Council Cllr Sarah Rouse · District Councils Network Nick Hibberd · Brighton & Hove City Council Professor Janette Webb · University of Edinburgh Richard Blyth · Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Xavier Brice · Sustrans
12 Jul 2021
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Oral evidence
Brian Robson · Northern Housing Consortium Catherine Evans · Stonewater John Alker · UK Green Building Council Michael Lewis · E.ON UK Nicola Pitts · Independent Networks Association Richard Smith · National House Building Council (NHBC)
21 Jun 2021
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Oral evidence
Andrew Forth · Royal Institute of British Architects Cllr Rachel Blake · Local Government Association Colm Britchfield · E3G Philippa Borrowman · Green Alliance Polly Billington · UK100 Polly Cook · ADEPT
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Local government and the path to net zero HC 34 29 Oct 2021 26 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Local government an…
Reaching net zero requires ensuring that new homes are designed and built in a way...
Reaching net zero requires ensuring that new homes are designed and built in a way that will avoid subsequent retrofitting and are built to net zero standards. This will also avoid the cost of ensuring higher standards being borne by … Read more
Government Response
The government states the Future Homes Standard will ensure new homes are 'zero carbon ready' by 2025, with a technical consultation in 2023 and legislation in 2024. It rejects the call for a 2022 consultation and does not address the request to consider a 2030 zero carbon target.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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13 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Local government an…
The retrofitting of existing homes is essential for ensuring the UK reaches net zero by...
The retrofitting of existing homes is essential for ensuring the UK reaches net zero by 2050. Retrofitting will come at substantial cost and can only be achieved through a mix of both public and private funding. We welcome the additional … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to specific initiatives like a £10 million Green Home Finance Accelerator and will publish a response to a consultation on improving home energy performance through lenders. However, it explicitly rejects tax incentives for energy efficient homes and does not provide longer-term funding plans beyond 2025 or outline the anticipated share from private investment.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Local government an…
Future retrofitting schemes will be needed to incentivise the public to switch to low carbon...
Future retrofitting schemes will be needed to incentivise the public to switch to low carbon heating. Such schemes should be put in place after a thorough consultation with stakeholders, including with the public. We believe the following five principles would … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines existing schemes like the Home Upgrade Grant, LAD, and SHDF which incorporate some recommended principles such as a major role for local authorities and adaptation to income groups. However, it maintains that competitive bidding processes are used for value for money and refers to other responses for long-term funding certainty.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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19 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Local government an…
As previously stated, we welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the National Planning Policy Framework...
As previously stated, we welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the National Planning Policy Framework to make sure it contributes to climate mitigation, but we are concerned that in the meantime some councils will continue to grant planning permission to … Read more
Government Response
The government aims to promote sustainable transport in planning, citing existing policies and strategies. It commits to creating Active Travel England, which will serve as a statutory consultee to ensure adequate walking and cycling provision in new developments, but does not explicitly commit to amending the NPPF or providing short-term clarification as requested.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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22 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fifth Report - Local government an…
We are pleased the Government has promised to empower local authorities to take bold decisions...
We are pleased the Government has promised to empower local authorities to take bold decisions in this area and to publish a toolkit of guidance and information to help local authorities develop innovative and sustainable transport policies. We also welcome … Read more
Government Response
The government details significant investments in active travel, including £2 billion over five years, and plans to outline future funding beyond 2022 in the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS 2) in Spring 2022.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 18 classified
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 5
Acknowledged 6
Not Addressed 4
Total 18 recs + 8 conclusions