The British Property Federation (BPF) is calling on ministers to mirror tough zero carbon homes targets across other heavily polluting areas of British industry, by offering direct incentives in return for improved environmental performance.

The BPF claims that clarity, visible incentives and clear tough targets from ministers lead to swift, decisive action from the private sector, along with greater green investment and ultimately a better return for the Treasury.

The federation’s chief executive, Liz Peace CBE, has commended officials at the Communities and Local Government (CLG) for imposing the 2016 deadline over zero carbon homes. But the BPF has warned that targets without the right incentives will drive the industry under. She said: “The property industry is not asking for tax handouts, but ministers must realise that targets without incentives will drive business under and fail on delivering the EU’s green policies.

The industry cannot achieve green targets without government help and this must happen across other areas of industry too. We need a unified approach on behalf of the whole government, which sees officials at HMT working closely with CLG to deliver housing and planning policy efficiently.”

Plans to extend zero carbon targets to commercial property by around 2020 are expected to be outlined in April.The BPF wants to see clear deadlines and realistic targets for measuring energy use and carbon emissions in the built environment, but wants ministers to re-invest green property tax in renewable energy sources, to help ensure the certainty of sustainable energy plants.

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