Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 39
39
Not Addressed
Establish RICS methodology as the UK industry standard for whole-life carbon assessments.
Recommendation
We reiterate and support the recommendation given by our predecessor Committee on embodied carbon and whole-life carbon assessments: a. “The RICS Professional Statement on whole-life carbon assessments is fit for use and already familiar to UK industry. We recommend that, as soon as possible [ … ], the Government should seek to establish the RICS methodology as the UK industry standard for whole-life carbon assessments”. (Recommendation, Paragraph 141)
Government Response Summary
The government's response details Natural England's role in the National Restoration Framework (NRF) and its funding, completely failing to address the recommendation to establish the RICS methodology as the UK industry standard for whole-life carbon assessments.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
121. The Planning and Infrastructure Act establishes Natural England’s role in developing and implementing the NRF, setting out their core responsibilities for producing and delivering EDPs. 122. The NRF has been designed to operate on a cost-recovery basis with the costs of EDPs being met through the payment of the nature restoration levy by developers. The Act also requires Natural England to spend money received by virtue of the nature restoration levy on conservation measures that relate to the environmental feature in relation to which the levy is charged. This ensures that funding received through the levy cannot be used to fund wider activity within Natural England. 123. We have been clear that the resourcing of Natural England to deliver EDPs is a key focus for Government which is why in last year’s Budget £14 million was allocated to set up the NRF and further funding was included in this year’s Budget to support the NRF as part of the wider funding to boost capacity in the planning system. This shows the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Natural England have the necessary support and funding to deliver the NRF. 124. The Government will continue to work closely with Natural England to ensure appropriate resources are in place to administer the NRF. Crucially, the nature of the legislation means that while capacity or funding constraints could limit the number of EDPs coming forward, once in place, there is an established source of funding to ensure that conservation measures are delivered and improved environmental outcomes are secured. 32