§ Mr. PlaskittTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the outcome of the review of Part L of the Building Regulations will be announced; and what technical changes he plans to introduce as a result of consultation. [152449]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe review of Part L of the Building Regulations is now almost complete. The Government wish to implement the changes at the earliest opportunity to maximise the reduction in Co2 emissions that will result. In order to allow the construction industry the maximum time possible to gear up to the changes in the Building Regulations with regard to energy efficiency, we are working towards publishing the proposed draft Approved Document in the near future, in advance of its formal publication, with a view to making amendment regulations in August of this year.
The draft cannot be finalised and formally published until after we have received the responses to the current consultation on Part E of the Building Regulations, which deals with sound insulation. We recognise the interaction between these two parts of the regulations, and specifically sought any further comments on Part L in the consultation on Part E. This consultation closes on 20 April 2001.
A key issue in the consultation on Part L was the target U-values. We have listened to the views expressed in response to the consultation, and have decided to implement the changes in one stage rather than two, to reduce the disruption to the industry. We have also accepted that the U-value of 0.30W/m2K for walls would 61W put an undue burden on builders and their materials and component suppliers in circumstances where European standards for declaring thermal insulation performance have yet to settle, and have relaxed it to 0.35 W/m2K. This is still an important improvement on the current standard and we will work towards a further seduction at a future date by early signalling of the prospective higher target.