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Select Committee · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Local government and the path to net zero

Status: Closed Opened: 10 Mar 2021 Closed: 24 Jan 2022 18 recommendations 8 conclusions 1 report

The aim of the inquiry is to scrutinise the government’s plans to make all new homes “zero carbon ready” by 2025, through the introduction of the Future Homes Standards, and to explore how local government can help the UK to reduce its carbon emissions to “net zero” by 2050, including by incentivising and decarbonising public … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - Local government and the path to net zero HC 34 29 Oct 2021 26 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

6 items
1 Conclusion Fifth Report - Local government and the… Acknowledged

Given how significant is local government’s influence over greenhouse gas emissions, it is clear the...

Given how significant is local government’s influence over greenhouse gas emissions, it is clear the UK will struggle to reach net zero by 2050 unless central and local government work together to deliver solutions tailored to meet local circumstances. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of local government's influence on greenhouse gas emissions and expresses commitment to working more closely with local areas to harness local action to deliver national net zero ambitions.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
4 Conclusion Fifth Report - Local government and the… Acknowledged

We note that the Net Zero Strategy assigns responsibility for co-ordinating with local government to...

We note that the Net Zero Strategy assigns responsibility for co-ordinating with local government to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and that the role of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities remains undefined. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's observation by clarifying DLUHC's defined role as stewarding the local government finance and planning systems, and advising BEIS on local engagement for net zero delivery.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
5 Conclusion Fifth Report - Local government and the… Acknowledged

On funding, we welcome the commitment in the Net Zero Strategy to explore ways to...

On funding, we welcome the commitment in the Net Zero Strategy to explore ways to simplify and consolidate the number of local net zero funding streams, but we note it included no clear commitment to increasing the level of long-term funding specifically for local authority climate action. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that local authorities already have significant spending power for net zero and reiterates its existing intention from the Net Zero Strategy to explore simplifying and consolidating funding streams to give more certainty for longer-term programmes, without committing to increase the overall level …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
8 Recommendation Fifth Report - Local government and the… Acknowledged

We also recommend that the Government come up with a plan for funding local authority...

We also recommend that the Government come up with a plan for funding local authority climate action in a way that gives councils the confidence and ability to plan for the long term, including by making good on its commitment in the Net Zero Strategy to simplify and consolidate the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states local authorities already have significant spending power for net zero and recognizes the importance of longer-term funding. It reiterates its intention to explore simplifying and consolidating net zero funding streams and to work across departments to boost investment certainty, but does not …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
12 Recommendation Fifth Report - Local government and the… Acknowledged

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should ensure that future reforms to the...

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should ensure that future reforms to the planning system give a larger role to sustainability than is the case in the current planning system. We welcome the Government’s commitment to reviewing the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure it contributes to climate … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government highlights existing National Planning Policy Framework provisions and recent updates that support low-carbon planning and local energy efficiency standards. It states it is considering future planning reforms and will review the NPPF to support local authorities in achieving net zero, but does not …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
16 Conclusion Fifth Report - Local government and the… Acknowledged

The Government is proposing that certain properties with low EPC Bands and using electricity and...

The Government is proposing that certain properties with low EPC Bands and using electricity and LPG gas will need to choose a low-carbon heating system when replacing their existing one from 2026. This contrasts with the same requirement on replacing heating systems only applying to homes that are on the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the observation by confirming its ongoing consultation to phase out high-carbon fossil fuels in off-grid homes during the 2020s, outlining financial support through the Home Upgrade Grant, and detailing future consultations on boiler efficiency and hydrogen-ready boilers.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
20 Sep 2021 Eddie Hughes · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Emma Fraser · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Emma Fraser · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ffiona Hesketh · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Siobhan Jones · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, The Lord Callanan · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy View ↗
15 Sep 2021 The Rt Hon. the Lord Deben · Climate Change Committee View ↗
13 Sep 2021 Cllr Peter Schwier · Essex County Council, Cllr Sarah Rouse · District Councils Network, Nick Hibberd · Brighton & Hove City Council, Professor Janette Webb · University of Edinburgh, Richard Blyth · Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Xavier Brice · Sustrans View ↗
12 Jul 2021 Brian Robson · Northern Housing Consortium, Catherine Evans · Stonewater, John Alker · UK Green Building Council, Michael Lewis · E.ON UK, Nicola Pitts · Independent Networks Association, Richard Smith · National House Building Council (NHBC) View ↗
21 Jun 2021 Andrew Forth · Royal Institute of British Architects, Cllr Rachel Blake · Local Government Association, Colm Britchfield · E3G, Philippa Borrowman · Green Alliance, Polly Billington · UK100, Polly Cook · ADEPT View ↗

Who gave evidence

25 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Andrew Forth · Head of Policy and Public Affairs Royal Institute of British Architects 1
Brian Robson · Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs Northern Housing Consortium 1
Catherine Evans · Director of Assets Operations Stonewater 1
Cllr Peter Schwier · Climate Czar Essex County Council 1
Cllr Rachel Blake · Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board Local Government Association 1
Cllr Sarah Rouse · Enhancing Quality of Life Board Member District Councils Network 1
Colm Britchfield · Researcher E3G 1
Eddie Hughes · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Emma Fraser · Director, Housing Markets and Strategy Team Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 1
Emma Fraser · Housing Markets and Strategy Director Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 1
Ffiona Hesketh · Deputy Director for Home Decarbonisation Policy a… Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy 1
John Alker · Director of Policy & Places UK Green Building Council 1
Michael Lewis · Chief Executive Officer E.ON UK 1
Nick Hibberd · Executive Director, Economy, Environment and Cult… Brighton & Hove City Council 1
Nicola Pitts · Executive Director Independent Networks Association 1
Philippa Borrowman · Policy Adviser Green Alliance 1
Polly Billington · Chief Executive Officer UK100 1
Polly Cook · Chief Officer Sustainable Energy and Air Quality … ADEPT 1
Professor Janette Webb · Professor of Sociology of Organisation University of Edinburgh 1
Richard Blyth · Head of Policy Practice and Research Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) 1
Richard Smith · Head of Standards, Innovation and Risk National House Building Council (NHBC) 1
Siobhan Jones · Director of Local Government and Communities Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities 1
The Lord Callanan · Minister for Business, Energy and Corporate Respo… Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Deben · Chair Climate Change Committee 1
Xavier Brice · CEO Sustrans 1