NewsArticle-06-04-2010

With Scotland already facing its worst housing crisis since the Second World War, new Building Standards published today may further delay the provision of essential new homes to meet both private and social needs. 

That is the view of industry body Homes for Scotland which represents companies building 95% of new homes built for sale across the country as well as an increasingly significant proportion of affordable housing.

Chief Executive Jonathan Fair (right) said:

“The home building industry remains fully supportive of the sustainability agenda and is already leading the way towards a low carbon economy when compared with almost all other industry sectors, but this momentum must be balanced against technical and affordability constraints. 

“At a time when our industry has already reduced the carbon emissions of new homes by 60% from 1990 levels¹ against the Scottish Government’s overall reduction target of 80% by 2050², the big question is whether new home buyers are willing to incur premiums of up to £8000 for low carbon living or ‘bolt-on renewables’ which seem to offer little in the way of pay back, are difficult to understand and operate, or remain unproven with regards to long term performance and maintenance?

“If the Scottish Government really wishes to meet its carbon emission reduction targets, much greater emphasis needs to be placed on systematically improving the performance and energy efficiency of existing dwellings.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1.  Research by BRE on behalf of Building Standards, published March 2008.  Comparison of the level of CO 2 emissions from buildings built in 1990 and 2008: Additional house types.

2.  Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

3.  Homes for Scotland represents the country’s home building industry which, prior to the onset of the credit crunch,:  

• was the largest source of private investment in Scotland and the largest user of the planning system
• built 20,000 new homes, contributed £6bn to the economy and directly impacted the employment of 100,000 people (2007 figures)

Half the industry's directly employed jobs have already been lost and Scottish new build housing output has plummeted, presenting far-reaching and long-term social and economic consequences.

Click here to read Homes for Scotland’s “building for their future” appeal to MPs as they prepare to enter the election season.