The government has published its response on changes to the operation of accreditation schemes for energy assessors, including detecting and preventing fraud. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is responsible for implementing the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in England and Wales. There are currently seven schemes that oversee the […]

The final decision on whether fracking in Lancashire should proceed or not is to be made by the UK Government. Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, sent a letter to Lancashire County Council of his intent yesterday. It comes as fracking firm Cuadrilla appealed against the council’s decision to reject the […]

The UK Government is seeking views on its proposals to exempt small housing sites from the zero carbon homes policy. It aims to implement the zero carbon homes standard from 2016, which requires house builders in England to decrease all carbon emissions from energy arising from fixed heating, lighting, hot water and other building services […]

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has been accused of undermining energy saving standards for new homes by the Labour Party. Labour claims the Government’s Deregulation Bill currently going through Parliament will stop local authorities from setting higher building standards for new homes in their area. Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate […]

More than 50 organisations including trade bodies, charities and green businesses are calling on the Government to avoid scrapping the policy driver for renewables in new buildings. The Merton Rule requires new developments to generate at least 10% of their energy needs from renewable sources in a bid to cut carbon emissions in the built […]

The Government is planning to slash the number of housing standards councils can pick for new build properties in their area – and crucially this includes standards which demand developers build in renewable energy sources. The latest Housing Standards review issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) suggests it is “no longer appropriate for […]

The chair of the Parliament’s energy policy ‘watchdog’ hopes the Energy Bill will feature prominently in the Queen’s Speech tomorrow. But this could be a challenge if the Department for Energy and Climate Change doesn’t exercise more “muscle” when it comes to dealing with other departments on Government, suggested MP Tim Yeo, chair of the energy […]

The UK’s building trade body has bashed laws which could mean homeowners have to spend thousands of pounds extra on green home improvements when they extend their homes. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) warns plans from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) will be “impractical, unpopular and counterproductive”. Changes to the Government’s “Part […]

Builders and big business are praising the Government for “holding its nerve” on new reforms of the planning system. Yesterday the Department for Communities and Local Government brought out its new policy framework, which changes the way developers get permission for building projects. “Development that is sustainable should go ahead, without delay – a presumption […]

Home owners replacing their boilers should also have to install efficiency measures like insulation, according to government climate advisers. Lord Adair Turner, Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change this week wrote to the Communities and Local Government department to ask for the two home improvements to be linked under new building laws. In a […]