Select Committee · Environmental Audit Committee

Sustainability of the built environment

Status: Closed Opened: 25 Mar 2021 Closed: 26 Jan 2023 29 recommendations 19 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will examine the sustainability of the built environment. It will look at the best routes to net zero for our future building needs from low carbon materials through to policies to minimise the whole life carbon impact of new buildings. Read the call for evidence for more detail about the inquiry.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First report - Building to net zero: costing carbon in cons… HC 103 26 May 2022 48 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
8 Recommendation First report - Building to net zero: co… Rejected

The timeline for the Future Homes Standard should be brought forward to December 2023 to...

The timeline for the Future Homes Standard should be brought forward to December 2023 to align the timeframes for addressing operational and embodied carbon. This will help provide the industry with the confidence it requires to construct low- carbon, energy efficient buildings. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government will not alter the timeframe for the Future Homes Standard (2025), stating it delivers on net zero commitments while ensuring new homes are delivered. However, they are accelerating work on a full technical specification for the Future Homes Standard, to be consulted on …
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34 Conclusion First report - Building to net zero: co… Rejected

Public procurement policy which mandates the completion of whole-life carbon assessments could kick-start the market...

Public procurement policy which mandates the completion of whole-life carbon assessments could kick-start the market for low-carbon construction. In time, a low- carbon standard for public works projects would help to remove the data barriers to establishing this market. The introduction of a Procurement Bill in the 2022– 23 Session … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that while the Procurement Bill offers an opportunity to reform procurement rules, it does not include specific provisions on the target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and it would not be appropriate to include such policy priorities on the …
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Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
19 Jan 2022 Adam Mactavish · Currie & Brown, Alexia Laird · Landsec, Catherine Adams · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Damitha Adikaari · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Eddie Hughes · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, The Lord Callanan · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy View ↗
17 Nov 2021 Dr Joe Jack Williams · Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Elaine Toogood · MPA The Concrete Centre, Louisa Bowles · LETI (London Energy Transformation Initiative), Michael H. Ramage · Centre for Natural Material Innovation, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Rhian Williams · Greater London Authority, Sam Liptrott · OFR Consultants, Fire and Risk Consultants, Will Arnold · The Institution of Structural Engineers View ↗
20 Oct 2021 Caterina Brandmayr · Green Alliance, Dr Alice Moncaster · The Open University, Dr Alice Owen · University of Leeds, Dr Jannik Giesekam · University of Strathclyde, Peter Conboy · igloo Regeneration Ltd, Robert Lambe · Chartered Institute of Building View ↗
14 Jul 2021 Dr Danielle Densley Tingley · The University of Sheffield, Dr Tia Kansara · Kansara Hackney Ltd, Emily Huynh · UK Green Building Council, Jane Anderson · The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP), Ms Phoebe MacDonald · Royal Institute of British Architects, The Rt Hon. the Lord Deben · Climate Change Committee View ↗

Who gave evidence

25 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Adam Mactavish · Director Currie & Brown 1
Alexia Laird · Sustainability Manager Landsec 1
Caterina Brandmayr · Head of climate policy Green Alliance 1
Catherine Adams · Director of Net Zero and Greener Building Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 1
Damitha Adikaari · Director for Climate Science and Energy Innovation Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy 1
Dr Alice Moncaster · Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering and Innova… The Open University 1
Dr Alice Owen · Professor: Business Sustainability and Stakeholde… University of Leeds 1
Dr Danielle Densley Tingley · Senior Lecturer in Architectural Engineering The University of Sheffield 1
Dr Jannik Giesekam · Chancellor's Fellow (Lecturer), Department of Civ… University of Strathclyde 1
Dr Joe Jack Williams · Associate, Researcher Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios 1
Dr Tia Kansara · Entrepreneur and co-founder Kansara Hackney Ltd 1
Eddie Hughes · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister … Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 1
Elaine Toogood · Head Of Architecture MPA The Concrete Centre 1
Emily Huynh · Technical Adviser for Advancing Net Zero UK Green Building Council 1
Jane Anderson · Board Member The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) 1
Louisa Bowles · Representative LETI (London Energy Transformation Initiative) 1
Michael H. Ramage · Director Centre for Natural Material Innovation, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge 1
Ms Phoebe MacDonald · Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advisor Royal Institute of British Architects 1
Peter Conboy · Development Director igloo Regeneration Ltd 1
Rhian Williams · Principal Strategic Planner (London Plan) Greater London Authority 1
Robert Lambe · Fellow Chartered Institute of Building 1
Sam Liptrott · Director OFR Consultants, Fire and Risk Consultants 1
The Lord Callanan · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister … Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Deben · Chair Climate Change Committee 1
Will Arnold · Head of Climate Action The Institution of Structural Engineers 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
27 Oct 2022 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Local Government, Department for Levellin…
30 Sep 2022 Chair to Secretaries of State BEIS and LUHC re: Sustainability of the built env…