NHBC response to Energy White Paper

NHBC, the independent authority on new home construction in the UK welcomed the ambition laid out in the Government's White Paper on Energy to set a framework for UK industry to work together to cut carbon emissions.

Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC Chief Executive, said: "Housebuilding has been tasked with delivering on the Government's zero carbon home target by 2016. The White Paper's aims to increase the levels of renewable energy sources will be central to achieving this aim, but only if greater emphasis is given to the issue of carbon offsetting.

"The Planning White Paper this week goes hand in glove with the energy targets and we hope that by the 2016 zero carbon target date the impetus to speed up and streamline the planning process will deliver the necessary major energy infrastructure.

"With housebuilding focusing on reducing carbon emissions and footprints, it is right that the energy industry also seek to match these aims by reducing reliance on imported energy sources which themselves present a threat to our long-term capability to deliver on zero carbon."