HCLG Committee questions housing, building & energy sectors

Purpose of the session

The session is likely to look at issues around the Government’s goal of achieving 75-80% reductions in carbon emissions in new housing built from 2025; the provision of funding schemes, including the Green Homes Grant and Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund; and proposals to address the performance gap between design intent and build quality of new homes. 

The Committee is also likely to examine issues around local and national standards, including whether local authorities should be able to set their own standards on carbon emissions. 

Background

The UK Government has committed to a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In November 2020, the Government set out its ten-point strategy for achieving this including measures to improve energy efficiency in new homes and installing 600,000 domestic heat pumps a year by 2028. There are also a range of areas within the remit of local authorities that could play a role in the UK’s efforts to reach the net zero target including local transport, recycling and waste disposal. 

Full terms of reference for the inquiry are included below in the editor’s notes. 

Witnesses

Monday 12 July

From 4pm 

• Richard Smith, Head of Standards, Innovation and Risk, National House Building Council (NHBC)
• Catherine Evans, Director of Assets Operations, Stonewater
• Brian Robson, Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Northern Housing Consortium

From 5pm 

• John Alker, Director of Policy & Places, UK Green Building Council
• Michael Lewis, CEO, E.ON
• Nicola Pitts, Executive Director, Independent Networks Association 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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