Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make it mandatory for new build residential, and commercial properties to be zero carbon; and if so, when.

The Building Regulations already require very energy efficient new homes. The minimum energy performance standard for new homes has been increased by over 30 per cent since 2010.

The next steps for reviewing these requirements are set out in the Government's Clean Growth Strategy, which sets out our intention to consult on strengthening energy requirements where cost effective, affordable, safe and practical to do so.

The Prime Minister has set out the Government's ambition as part of a ‘Clean Growth Mission’ under the UK’s Industrial Strategy to halve the total use of energy in new homes compared to today’s standards for new build. This will consider what role energy performance requirements will have to support a wider approach alongside innovation including more efficient appliances, smart appliances, smart controls and modern methods of construction.