Achi news desk-
Housebuilders have said new regulations based on the Scottish Government’s now abandoned target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 should be delayed and examined against the backdrop of the row and the wider housing availability crisis.
Home providers said in one example that new Passivhaus standards which have a deadline of 2025 to be introduced could add around £20,000 to a £310,000 new build.
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Homes for Scotland represents around 200 companies “which together provide the vast majority of all new homes being built across the country”.
It has key industry figures on its board, including Doug McLeod, Scottish director for Barratt Homes, Innes Smith, chief executive of Springfield Properties, and Janice Russell, managing director of McTaggart Construction.
Jane Wood, chief executive of the representative body, said: “The home building sector has been clear and consistent in its recognition and support of the need to do more at the earliest practical opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which associated with construction and operation. of new homes but has long-standing concerns about the viability of legislation being introduced to achieve this and the lack of a clear and co-ordinated delivery route map.
“With four local authorities already declaring housing crises, an accumulated shortfall of over 100,000 homes since 2008 and recent research showing that over a quarter of households face some form of housing need, it is vital that all regulations and policy in the future are considered in this regard. context.
“Given the current economic conditions and regulatory challenges faced by our housebuilder members operating across all tenures, this change is very much in line with the overall ambition to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030, unattainable under current timetables.
“We therefore urge the Scottish Government to delay and review any further regulation, such as their commitment to introduce a Passivhaus Equivalent Standard for new homes from 2025 and to work with us and other stakeholders to prepare a clear road map that would enable’ r sector to do that. deliver low carbon homes at scale and at speed, ensuring Scotland has the homes it needs to meet the needs of its people.”
Patrick Harvie, the Carbon Free Buildings Minister, said: “Scotland is way behind where we should be in terms of climate, and the lack of progress on clean heating in our homes since the first Climate Act is one of the r reasons for that. That means we need to speed up action, not slow down.
“Our commitment to ending Scotland’s contribution to global emissions as soon as possible, and by 2045 at the latest, is unwavering. We will not rest until we have achieved net zero so now is the time to take course which will enable us to complete the journey as fairly and as quickly as possible. Heat from our homes and buildings is responsible for around a fifth of Scotland’s overall emissions so there is no way to achieve Net Zero by 2045 without addressing this.”
He added: “We have already implemented regulations requiring clean heating to be installed in all new buildings from this month. We have also consulted on ambitious proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill which will increase the speed and scale the move to clean heating dramatically, so that we tackle climate change and ensure that everyone in Scotland has a warm, affordable home to live in. We are committed to introducing a Bill during the this Parliament.
“We are currently carrying out a review of energy standards – engagement began in early 2023 and Cartrefi i l’r’an is a contributing member of the associated working group.
“We intend to consult on proposals at the end of the summer, to support our commitment to the Senedd to confirm any changes to regulations in December this year.”
Also this week, business editor Ian McConnell asks what the blockbuster sale of Edinburgh Airport means for passengers, writing: “The deal looks to bode well for further passenger growth and connectivity at the airport.”
Elsewhere, business reporter Kristy Dorsey writes that Scottish space company Orbex has received £16.7 million from a group of six major investors to further work on its rocket technology and build its launch facility in Sutherland.
Also, deputy business editor Scott Wright says that “the revelation that bosses at Event Campus Scotland are exploring the development of a new and larger conference center next to its existing venues – including the OVO Hydro and SEC Armadillo – on the banks of the River Clyde is to be welcomed “.
