Responding to a report from the Environmental Audit Committee, the UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) is calling on the Government to maintain the Code for Sustainable Homes.
MPs on the Committee urged Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles to 'think again' before scrapping the Code, which they argued had been a 'big success' in driving up home building standards, delivering local choice and supporting green exports.
Senior policy advisor at UK-GBC, Jo Wheeler, said: 'The Code for Sustainable Homes has transformed the industry's attitude to sustainability, and has been very helpful in setting out a clear direction for future standards. The time was right for review and rationalisation, but any changes must support the delivery of high quality homes.
'With the demise of the Code and big omissions in the Housing Standards Review consultation around issues like materials, we risk losing a momentum that has transformed the way homes have been built over the last seven years.'
She continued: 'UK-GBC believes that where appropriate, standards should be brought into Building Regulations as soon as possible, and the Government's self imposed 'one in two out' rule is not a valid excuse to delay. We also need suitable transitional arrangements, so that we don't see a weakening in standards before national regulations catch up.'
