'Merton' rules to be relaxed

House builders should find it easier to met environmental targets following a government announcement that guidance is to be reformed.

The so-called Merton Rules, devised by planners at Merton Council to ensure that at least ten per cent of energy on new housing developments is provided on-site, will be amended, housing minister Yvette Cooper said.

Some controversy has surrounded the rules, which have been criticised for not considering the suitability of sites to lending themselves to solar or wind power.

Ms Cooper said: "We believe [the Merton Rules] should be sufficiently flexible to allow for off-site as well as on-site renewable technologies and councils should also consider wider local low-carbon opportunities."

She concluded that the amended rules would boost the government's efforts to meet zero-carbon targets for new properties by 2016.

A recent survey by Norwich and Peterborough Building Society revealed that while people support this government target, they feel that price is prohibitive for making changes to their existing homes.

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