黑洞社区

Last month the prime minister-in-waiting announced he would build five eco-towns to increase the housing supply and also raise sustainable standards.

The first town, a 10,000-home project in Northstowe on the outskirts of Cambridge, is likely to be constructed to zero-carbon emission building standards.

But head of research at CB Hamptons International, Jennet Siebrits, said that such homes will be 12.5 % more costly to build than standard homes. This represents a 拢13,400 increase on the standard-build cost of 拢105,700 for a 60 m2.

鈥淲e support proposals for more sustainable methods of house building but these must be balanced with the pressing need to expand current housing supply,鈥� she said.

CB Hamptons is concerned the increased cost could drive away many first-time buyers. House-builders need to know that the market is there for them to invest in sustainable homes that will be more expensive to build.

The agent sais more 鈥渃arrots鈥� are needed to stimulate the market if eco-homes are going to cost more. The government should consider stamp duty exemptions for buyers, streamline the planning process for new developments and stop the move towards a windfall tax on landowners such as farmers who have gained planning permission for housing development.

On the supplier side, the government should invest in more incubator firms which can develop and mass produce more efficient sustainable technologies, thereby driving down the cost of new-build.