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Wales ahead of the zero carbon game

Posted: 08/03/2007

Zero carbon building standards are set to reach Wales 5 years before the rest of the UK! The Welsh Assembly has dramatically upped the sustainability stakes by setting a zero carbon target for all new buildings by 2011 - five years ahead of the UK government's recently announced target for zero carbon homes.

Despite reports of scepticism from some quarters, failure would prove a major embarrassment for the assembly, which has made high performance buildings the headlining policy of its emerging climate change strategy.

However, before any work can start, the Assembly needs to develop it's own Building Regulations, to replace the countrywide regs currently set by Whitehall. Environment minister Carwyn Jones says the Assembly is in the process of opening discussions with the UK government over devolution of the regulatory framework. 'Once these regulations are devolved, it will allow us to move further and faster on achieving zero carbon on all new buildings in Wales,' Jones said.

Architects working in Wales will soon see the effect of the new policy. The Assembly has decided that all new buildings funded by the devolved government must be built to the BREEAM 'Excellent' standard, the highest benchmark currently available. This will become an essential prerequisite for all newbuild projects within six months.

The Assembly's zero carbon policy will be even more challenging because it applies to all new buildings, including offices and schools, not just dwellings. The UK government has so far committed to a series of Part L revisions for housing - starting with a 25% improvement in 2010 - but has not given any parallel commitments to offices and workplaces.

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