George Osborne axed the policy designed to ensure that all new homes built from 2016 meet zero carbon standards – together with a sister policy that applied to all new non-residential buildings such as offices, schools and hospitals from 2019.
In an open letter to the Chancellor, senior leaders from 246 organisations – including Willmott Dixon, Bouygues, Sir Robert McAlpine, Lendlease and Saint-Gobain – warn that the policy U-turn has “undermined industry confidence in Government” and will “curtail investment in British innovation and manufacturing”.
They write: “There was a broad consensus in support of the zero carbon policy, which was designed to give industry the confidence it needs to invest and innovate, in order to drive higher energy efficiency standards and low carbon energy solutions.
“Abandoning the zero carbon policy will have regressive impacts and be harmful to British industry.”
Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive of the UK Green Building Council, which coordinated the letter, said: “The speed and the stealth with which this administration has destroyed some of the long-term policies supporting the renewable and low carbon industries has been breath-taking.
“We have witnessed an unparalleled wave of support from our members and the wider industry who are deeply concerned about how the Government’s sudden, regressive and arbitrary decision to scrap the long established zero carbon policy will impact their business and investment.”
Rob Lambe, Managing Director of the energy services arm of Willmott Dixon, said: “We have worked tirelessly over the past ten years, along with our clients, investing tens of millions of pounds to develop detailed solutions required to deliver against the zero carbon homes 2016 policy.”
Signatories to the letter included:
Nick Molho, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group
David Partridge, Managing Partner, Argent (Property Development) Services LLP
Rob Bould, CEO, Bilfinger GVA
Nicolas Guérin, Managing Director, Bouygues Development
Melanie Leech, Chief Executive, British Property Federation
Mike Cook, Chairman, BuroHappold
Gordon Sheret, Sales and Marketing Director, Cofely UK
Paul Vockins, Head of Sustainability, Colliers International
Don Ward, Chief Executive, Constructing Excellence
Tony Cocker, CEO, E.ON UK
Mike Roberts, Managing Director, HAB Housing
Peter Connolly, Chief Executive, Igloo Regeneration
Ramon Arratia, European Sustainability Director, Interface
Mark Stupples, UK Chief Operating Officer, JLL
Richard Burnley, Managing Director, Kingspan Insulation
Paul King, Managing Director Sustainability, Communications & Marketing, LendLease Europe
Donald Daw, Divisional Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental Systems UK
Nina Skorupska, Chief Executive, Renewable Energy Association
Rory Moss, Managing Director, Rockwool
David Johnston, Partner, RPC
Peter Hindle MBE, Senior Vice-President, Sustainable Habitat, Saint-Gobain and General Delegate, Saint-Gobain (UK Ireland and South Africa)
Hector McAlpine, Director, Sir Robert McAlpine
Seb Berry, Head of Public Affairs, Solarcentury
Jonathan Clemens, Head of Marketing – Construction and Infrastructure, Tata Steel
Alex Flach, Property Director, Whitbread
John Frankiewicz, Divisional Chief Operating Officer, Willmott Dixon Ltd
