Letter from the Chairman of the Committee
to Jane Forshaw, Head of Environmental Policy, English Partnerships
and David Orr, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation
Thank you for your evidence at the Environmental
Audit Committee session on Tuesday 13 May.
Unfortunately, the session had to be ended slightly
ahead of time, as pressing engagements for a number of Members
left the Committee inquorate. This left a small number of issues
that the Committee would still like to explore.
I would therefore be very grateful if you would
like to supply a brief written answer to the attached questions,
if possible, by Tuesday 3 June.
1. How significant is the extra cost of
building low and zero carbon homes? What evidence is there that
zero carbon homes will be economically viable for private house-builders?
2. Will the social and affordable housing
that is provided via private developers through section 106 payments
have to follow the same mandatory targets under the Code for Sustainable
Homes as private housing (ie, Level 3 by 2010, Level 4 by 2013,
and Level 6 by 2016)? Or will it have to follow the more stringent
targets for housing built by housing associations (ie, Level 3
by April 2008, Level 4 by 2013, and Level 6 by 2016)? What do
you think about this?
3. How well is the Government ensuring that
new developments are being designed and built with the necessary
public transport, social, and energy infrastructures in place
to ensure they are sustainable communities?
4. To what extent are environmental controls
within the planning system effectively being used as a from of
nimbyism, to block any proposals for new development, irrespective
of their individual environmental impacts? To what extent are
proposed reforms in the Planning Bill likely to affect this?
20 May 2008
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