Zero carbon homes 'still a long way off'

Plans to build zero carbon homes across the UK are still a long way off despite increased publicity for the eco-friendly developments in recent months, it has been advised.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has said that the benefits of reduced stamp duty, as outlined by chancellor Gordon Brown in his final budget, and energy efficiency savings may not offset the overall cost of a home.

A shortage of housing stock as a whole could also provide problems in terms of affordability, a CML spokesman has advised.

"The reality is that agreeing a standard for new zero carbon homes is only a starting point. The market still has to deliver them. Perhaps we will only really be able to assess the true impact of the drive to build zero carbon homes when we can see how many of them are actually built, and how many are also powered by zero carbon sources of energy," the spokesman advised.

"At this stage, we simply do not know enough about building carbon neutral homes to know when they might be built in significant numbers or whether consumers will be prepared to pay a premium for them," he added.

Gordon Brown is under pressure to make further financial concessions to eco-friendly homes when he becomes prime minister.


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