Following the government’s initial announcement in March 2014 the Code for Sustainable Homes has been officially scrapped. The aim was to reduce the ‘red tape’, cost and complexity associated with housebuilding. Elements of the code will be included in the building regulations.
Previously, it was possible for local authorities to set their own sustainability levels (codes 3, 4, 5 or 6) as potential planning conditions.
Some feel that because the Building Regulations are a ‘National Technical Standard’ it will not allow local authorities to apply stricter quality standards to suit the locality.
Time will tell …