Body calls for more eco-home flexibility

One of Britain's largest construction associations has called on the government not to back new legislation which would make the so-called Merton Rule mandatory.

The Merton Rule, named after the London borough which pioneered it, states that every new home in the borough should reduce its carbon emissions by ten per cent by having microrenewables on site.

Conservative MP Michael Fallon has introduced the Planning and Energy Bill as a private members bill in parliament, with the aim of expanding the rule across the country.

However, this has been opposed by the Home Builders Federation, whose director of external affairs John Slaughter said the use of microrenewables might not be the best way to processed in each and every circumstance.

He commented: "You end up with unnecessarily expensive and not technically efficient solutions … I'm not sure that is the best deal for society as a whole."

Mr Slaughter called for a "wider debate" about the best approach to building greener homes.


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