London’s green housing rules cut carbon equivalent of 17,000 fights

New environmental and energy standards for affordable housing have enabled a total carbon saving of 17,500 tonnes a year, equating to more than 17,000 return flights between London and New York City.

As part of the city’s ambition to be net zero by 2030, the Mayor has set out new environmental standards for developers who want to use City Hall funds to build affordable housing.

These include making all developments of more than ten homes net zero carbon and air quality neutral.

The new London Plan green standards exceed national regulations and have already achieved a carbon reduction that is 46.2% higher than the national legal requirements for referable developments in 2020.

The Mayor went to visit Agar Grove in Camden, which is believed to be the UK’s biggest Passivhaus project and won the 2019 New London Awards.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: ‘Having spent time with world leaders and campaigners at COP26 last week, I know we stand at a landmark moment in the battle against climate change. We must take bold action now or face dire consequences, with catastrophic impacts on our environment, the climate and the air we breathe further down the line.

‘In London that change begins in our own homes. I am determined to build the genuinely affordable homes Londoners need – but they must be homes that are fit for the future and help to tackle the climate emergency rather than make it worse.

‘In Camden, the council and developers have clearly embraced this challenge. Whilst we still have a lot to do, but the actions we take today will have a profound impact on the London we leave for future generations.’

Julie Hirigoyen, CEO of the UK Green Building Council, said: ‘It’s positive to see the Mayor’s office setting a sustainability criteria for its affordable homes programme that goes well beyond Building Regulations.

‘With our homes representing around 16% of total UK domestic emissions, it is critical that we get it right first time and ensure all new homes are equipped to deliver the energy performance levels required for Net Zero, which is why UKGBC are calling for a net zero carbon homes definition that includes actual in-use regulated and unregulated energy demand, and upfront embodied carbon emissions, alongside detailed performance targets for each of these.’

In related news, a new report from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, together with Ramboll, articulates the business case for circular buildings.

Photo by Alex Tai