8th February 2007

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled details of a new international challenge for housebuilders to design and build flagship zero-carbon and low carbon communities.

The Carbon Challenge, which will be run by English Partnerships, calls on developers to raise standards of design, construction, energy and water use and waste disposal so that these techniques can be used in the future as a benchmark for mainstream development. It also seeks to meet rising expectations from the public for more sustainable communities which offer them reduced bills and a higher quality of housing design.

The Challenge will spearhead the move towards zero-carbon development - as announced in December in a radical package of new measures for greener housebuilding, including the Code for Sustainable Homes and the first ever planning policy on climate change - and builds on the Chancellor's announcement in the Pre-Budget Report that in future most new zero carbon homes will be exempt from stamp duty.

Ruth Kelly said: "We must cut carbon emissions to tackle climate change - and housing has a major role to play. Building the new homes we need across the country is a prime opportunity to harness new technology and drive up environmental standards.

"We need to design communities, not just houses. While there are lots of carbon saving measures which can be used in individual homes, designing a whole community gives developers scope to make use of schemes like district heating and combined heat and power plants.

"I encourage British and overseas builders to come up with bold and innovative ways to kickstart the drive towards zero carbon in ten years."

The first two English Partnerships sites are named as Hanham Hall near Bristol and Glebe Road in Peterborough. Three further public and private sector sites are expected to be added to the Challenge within twelve months. The Challenge will be open to developers and construction firms from across Europe with a target of delivering several thousand zero or low carbon homes.

These sites made available under the Challenge will be brought to the market individually over the coming year with the support of local authorities and other partner organisations. They will be specified as requiring zero carbon or near zero carbon according to local factors. As well as being environmentally friendly, it is important that the communities are able to supply affordable, well-designed and spacious housing.

Trevor Beattie, the Director of English Partnerships responsible for delivering the Challenge said: "English Partnerships will work with the construction industry to meet the challenge of climate change. Together we can make a major contribution. We will work with the house building industry and local authorities to shape the future of development in this country. Ministers have issued the Challenge and there will be many ready to take it up."

The successful bidders for the first two sites will be announced in autumn 2007, with work starting on the new communities in summer 2008. The Government is also encouraging other public land owners, including local councils, as well as private land owners, to put their own land forward as part of the Carbon Challenge and be zero carbon trailblazers.

http://www.communities.gov.uk