§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has(a)commissioned and (b)evaluated into the costs and benefits of moving to near zero space heating buildings in advance of the next review of Part L of the Building Regulations; and if he will make a statement. [48689]
§ Dr. WhiteheadMy Department has not commissioned specific research on moving to near-zero space heating buildings. Work on the next review of Part L is in progress and the aim continues to be to see what further contribution can be made to achieving carbon dioxide emission targets while keeping the Building Regulations proportionate, cost-effective, reasonably flexible for designers and unlikely to cause construction defects.
Once the proposals have been developed an evaluation of the benefits and the costs, including the environmental costs, of further reducing the energy consumption of new and existing buildings will be carried out, but it is unlikely that the results will indicate national regulatory requirements should demand near-zero space heating. However the regulatory requirements do not, and will not, prevent builders from adopting better performance criteria, including near-zero space heating if it suits particular circumstances.