Telford councillor calls for legislation change over energy efficient homes

Telford & Wrekin Council has reduced carbon emissions by 60 per cent – compared to its 2018/19 baseline data – as it aims to be carbon neutral by 2023.

The council's cabinet member for climate action, Councillor Carolyn Healy, wants the Government to put stronger building regulations in place – incorporating energy efficient products.

She told a cabinet meeting this week that constituents ask her why solar panels are not fitted on all newly built properties?

She said: “If the Conservative Government hadn’t scrapped the last Labour government’s policy of zero carbon homes by 2016 there would be.

“We’re not waiting on this Government. Our own council-owned housing company, Nuplace, is building homes to high standards with solar panels, electric vehicle charging, air source heat pumps and high levels of insulation well above current building regulations.

“The residents that live in these homes will be saving hundreds of pounds on their energy bills. Action on climate change is being delivered across every part of our organisation and is at the heart of everything that we do.

“Whilst there are challenges ahead doing things differently offers opportunities for our area and our residents. We won’t delay, we’ll take that opportunity.”

Councillor Healy told the cabinet meeting that its climate change supplementary planning document would be included in the council’s Local Plan to ‘push developers to meet those higher standards’ ahead of the Government changing the national building regulations.

When questioned how enforceable they would be to property developers, Councillor Healey admitted that they needed national building regulations to change.

She voiced her concern that the Government’s Future Homes Standard policy, due to be implemented in 2025, will ‘get pushed back’.

“The more we have in the Local Plan the stronger it is,” added Councillor Healey.

“The fact we are doing it with Nuplace is setting an example to show that it can be done, it can be viable and it can make a difference.”

Councillor Healey reinforced the need to battle climate change and said that July this year had the hottest global temperatures on record and last month was the hottest September since records began.

“Our climate is changing,” she added. “Extreme weather events are already affecting people all over the world, including here in our borough and particularly in my ward (Ironbridge Gorge) with increased flooding.

“I feel it’s so dangerous and disappointing that the UK Prime Minister is delaying action on climate change.

“Here in Telford & Wrekin we’re not delaying. We continue to take action to reach net zero by 2023 and work with our partners across the borough to reduce carbon emissions.

“Rishi Sunak’s excuse for delaying action on climate change is that it’s too expensive. I’m sorry Rishi you are wrong. It’s too expensive not to act.”

Councillor Nathan England, cabinet member for finance, said that £4 million had been put into the council’s capital investment programme as part of its aim to reduce carbon emissions.

He added: “However, it’s just the start and we really need central government to step up and improve funding for local governments.”

Conservative group leader Andrew Eade said the council was making a ‘small but important’ contribution and showing the way forward.

During the last year the council has installed an air source heat pump at Newport Swimming Pool and extended the use of LED lighting and solar panels on more of its buildings.

Telford & Wrekin Council has also bought more electric vehicles and is due to install 140 electric vehicle charging points across the borough.

Work is also taking place on Oakengates Leisure Centre to install an air source heat pump and thermal upgrades to the building to make it more energy efficient.

Councillor Healey said the council has also allocated £500,000 to future retrofitting properties with the lowest energy efficiency ratings and to buy energy efficiency products.

She added that the council’s solar farm at Wheat Leasowes produced enough energy to power 1,200 homes.

Telford & Wrekin Council is also working to become the first ‘plastic free’ borough in the country. Newport, Wellington and Madeley are now considered ‘plastic free towns’.