Local authorities to get more rights to build eco homes

The government recently introduced new measures to encourage housing authorities to provide more eco-friendly homes. As well as allowing councils to build on derelict land, these new measures allocate funding to councils to help them support regeneration projects. But what does this news mean to those looking to get on the property ladder?

Sustainability and Home Building

A recent survey completed by British Land found that 55% of participants feel that it is important to consider the environmental impact and energy efficiency of a house before making the decision to buy or rent a property. The same survey also reported that 64% of respondents would want to have information about the materials and processes used in construction before deciding to move into a property.

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How does the New Government Legislation Impact Home Building?

This new government announcement provides the next stages of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, made by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). This legislation aims to place more power in the hands of local authorities but also follows the government’s guiding BIDEN principles that new developments should:

1. Be beautiful
2. Support local infrastructure
3. Offer local residents the chance to voice opposition to new builds,
4. Enhance the environment
5. Allow neighbourhoods to be shaped by residents

The new government guidelines also provide local authorities with the power to build homes on derelict brownfield land, and has awarded additional funding of nearly £35 million to 41 local authorities to support the regeneration of towns and cities under the Brownfield Land Release fund 2. It’s hoped that this investment and the confirmation of local authority’s rights will support the building of new homes which have a low environmental impact and contribute to strengthening communities.

The new legislation also allows for slow property developers to be fined if they take too long to build. This contributes to meeting the government’s target of building 300, 000 new homes, an aim which Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, recently reiterated.

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New Build Eco Homes

There are already several eco new build developments up and down the country, for example, the Lendlease development in South London. For a house to be classed as eco, it generally has to meet several standards, including:

-increased water conservation,
-lowered CO2 emissions
-reduced pollution levels.

If you’re thinking about joining the property ladder, an eco-home could be a great option. But, you may be wondering if an eco-home requires the same initial survey effort as a traditional property. Although new builds should be perfect, whether they’re eco or not, it’s always a good idea to have a building survey completed to make sure there are no issues with the property or build quality. Choose a reputable firm, such as Sam Conveyancing to arrange a building survey. Firms such as this can organise a building survey London, working from their base but can also arrange surveys anywhere in the country.

As issues around sustainability and the environment become ever more important, we expect the number of eco homes to substantially increase. While this is great for the environment, it’s important to do your homework before you consider purchasing an eco home.