Plans requiring all new buildings to deliver a 25% improvement on current energy efficiency standards are “tough” but necessary, accord to a UK planning body.
Housing and planning minister John Healey recently told a convention of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) that new rules for 2010 will mean both domestic and non-domestic buildings must carry the 25% improvements.
Commenting on the proposed revision of the Part L Building Regulations, RTPI secretary-general
Robert Upton said: “To adopt this 25% improvement in 2010 will be tough but this is a bold decision which we welcome and fully support.
“If we are to achieve our targeted reduction of carbon emissions of 20% by 2020 as the minister indicated, we have to act now.
“The Government is demonstrating its clear commitment to delivering a long-term solution to our climate change challenge and is not being blown off target by the current economic situation.
“It’s time for planners, architects and developers to step up to the mark and respond to this challenge.”
He also praised an initiative to incentivise the use of Local Development Orders, describing the use of funding to facilitate this as “extremely valuable and timely”.
