Context
The question arises from the need to improve environmental performance of new homes. The Government is consulting on how building regulations might be reformed, but current regulations require compliance by developers to a design standard rather than a performance-in-use standard.
Question
What steps he is taking to promote energy-efficient house building. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he has said. Building regulations are one tool we can use to improve the environmental performance of new homes, and I am conscious that the Government are consulting on how those regulations might be reformed. However, as he also knows, the regulations in place at the moment require compliance by developers to a design standard rather than a performance-in-use standard. Is his Department considering whether that should change? In any event, when does he expect revised and improved building regulations to be in place to compel that improved environmental performance?
Answer from Eddie Hughes
The future homes standard will ensure that new homes produce 75% less carbon than those being built today. Those properties will be future-proofed, with low-carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency, and they will not need any further retrofit to become net zero in line with the electricity supply. That is what building back greener looks like. My right hon. and learned Friend will be delighted to know that we will update the regulations relating to fuel, power and ventilation this year, in advance of the introduction of the future homes standard in 2025. But we are not waiting for 2025; in the short term, our priority will be to implement an interim 2021 part L uplift. That sounds a bit esoteric, but it means that there will be a 31% reduction in carbon production compared with the 2013 standard. With regard to the point that he makes about performance standard versus design standard, I would be delighted to meet him and his constituent to discuss that further.
Not addressed: Did not directly address whether the Department is considering changing from a design standard to a performance-in-use standard for building regulations
How: Would Be Delighted To Meet Him And His Constituent To Discuss
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