The delivery of energy-efficient homes is among 129 recommendations made to government in former energy minister Chris Skidmore’s newly published Net Zero Review.
The report, commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, proposes legislation for the Future Homes Standard that would see no new homes build with a gas boiler from 2025 and all homes sold to have an EPC of C or above by 2033.
Recommendations also include a 10-year mission to make heat pumps a widespread technology in UK homes, and reforming EPC ratings to create a “clearer, more accessible” Net Zero Performance Certificate (NZPC) for households.
Skidmore said: “In developing this report, we have engaged with communities, economists and climate experts from across the country through more than 50 roundtables and 1800 submissions – all of which have led to the Mission Zero findings.
“My recommendations are designed to make the most of this historic opportunity, covering the length and breadth of our economy, so that people in every part of the country can reap the benefits of this both in their communities, and in their pockets.”
Reacting to the recommendations for energy-efficient housing, Rob Wall, assistant director of policy at The British Property Federation, commented: “The Skidmore review has highlighted several of the barriers the property industry is experiencing as it looks to transition to net zero. A lack of regulatory and policy certainty is impacting the ability for businesses to make long-term investment decisions, while the significant cost of retrofitting and improving assets can be prohibitive.
“We recognise that the property industry has a significant role to play in decarbonising. The review recommends the creation of an overarching finance strategy to provide valuable support and for the tax system to be reviewed so it incentivises changes, and both of these are essential.
“The planning system is another vital component of ensuring we deliver the necessary green infrastructure to move away from a reliance on gas. However, the review could have gone further on mandating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, on new developments.”
Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said he was pleased to see the recommendation for delivering more energy-efficient homes in the review. However, he also expressed disappointment that “support remains unclear for existing homeowners and landlords in order to meet these standards and cover the large cost in doing so, as for many, this is unachievable without an incentive package”.
Douglas added: “We recognise the important part that housing must play in reaching Net Zero, but continue to urge the UK government to move away from a one-size fits all policy and develop energy efficiency proposals that work with the different age, condition, and size of properties. They must also quickly deliver on publishing responses to consultations on improving home energy performance through lenders and MEES as landlords, agents and homeowners urgently need time to reach the new standards.”
