The panel was asked to provide \u2018advice on whether there should be changes to the standards governing the design and quality of affordable housing\u2019 and to ‘evaluate the impact of moving to deliver zero carbon homes by 2020\u2019.<\/p>\n
Key recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n Context<\/strong><\/p>\n As things stand, all grant-funded new and refurbished homes in Wales built by social landlords have to meet standards in Development Quality Requirements (DQR) that are above building regulations.<\/p>\n DQR includes the Lifetime Homes standards to meet the changing needs of residents including wider doors, accessible ground floor shower room and additional space for wheelchair users to move around the home. It does not have an energy performance standard beyond that in the building regulations.<\/p>\n The EU energy performance directive requires member states to draw up plans for all new buildings to be of a \u2018nearly zero energy standard by 2020\u2019 and the UK Government\u2019s Committee on Climate Change has said that \u2018buildings constructed now should not require retrofit in 15 years\u2019 time\u2019 and should be highly energy efficient with low-carbon heating from the start\u2019.<\/p>\n Responses<\/strong><\/p>\n The panel heard evidence that current standards are too prescriptive, with the mandatory requirement for Lifetime Homes and downstairs shower room seen as especially onerous. Downstairs space adaptable for future needs of occupiers and available as storage was seen as a better option.<\/p>\n There was acceptance that housebuilding must change and become more energy efficient to meet the challenge of climate change. However, the panel says it has \u2018not seen any evidence that suggests that Wales (or any part of the UK) would be able to move towards near zero carbon by 2020\u2019.<\/p>\n A new framework <\/strong><\/p>\n The specific requirements of Lifetime Homes should be replaced by mandatory minimum space and storage requirements and designed to support ease of future adaptation (eg non-load bearing internal walls that can be moved).<\/p>\n Some new housing provided to housing associations via Section 106 is not built to the same space standard as social housing and falls short of meeting the needs of tenants. The panel says local authorities would benefit from new national planning policy to require the same standards.<\/p>\n After hearing all the evidence on moving to near zero carbon, the panel concluded that this will take some time and that achieving it by 2020 is \u2018unrealistic and unachievable\u2019 and would result in fewer homes being built.<\/p>\n However, it says there is nothing to stop a move to near zero or Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) A rating over a longer period. This should apply to all affordable homes from 2021 and all homes irrespective of tenure by 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n