Insurance News Archive

UK new homes should be built to Scandinavian standards

New homes being built in the UK over the next ten years should be built to Scandinavian standards, the housing and planning minister said yesterday.

Speaking after a visit to an environmentally friendly and sustainably designed housing development in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, Yvette Cooper said developers needed to increase standards to meet the challenges of climate change.

She wants to use ideas and techniques already being developed and adopted in other European countries to deliver substantial cuts in carbon emissions from new homes, a proposal which may impact upon commercial property insurance also.

Ms Cooper said: "The challenge now is for UK developers to create low cost and low carbon homes.

"We believe that new developments in the Thames Gateway and in areas like Northstowe can also lead the way," she added.

The second phase of the Design for Manufacture competition will be launched at the end of the year.

14 Sep 2006