Fifth Report - Local government and the path to net zero

Select Committee
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee HC 34 29 October 2021
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 26 items (18 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 26 of 26 classified)
Accepted 11
Accepted in Part 5
Acknowledged 6
Not Addressed 4
Government response
Local government and the path to net zero: government response to the Select Committee report · published 18 Jan 2022
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Recommendations & Conclusions

5 results
9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Para 41
Reaching net zero requires ensuring that new homes are designed and built in a way...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 69
The retrofitting of existing homes is essential for ensuring the UK reaches net zero by...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 71
Future retrofitting schemes will be needed to incentivise the public to switch to low carbon...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 87
As previously stated, we welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the National Planning Policy Framework...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 103
We are pleased the Government has promised to empower local authorities to take bold decisions...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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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