Written questions by Hobhouse.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Future Homes Standard on the delivery of high-quality, future-proofed homes that reduce energy bills for residents; and whether the Standard will include requirements on the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on suitable new homes.

Homes built under the Future Homes Standard will be future proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting consumer energy bills. A full impact assessment will be published in due course. Government have confirmed that the Future Homes Standard will include solar panels and that we expect them to be installed in the majority of new homes. Installing solar panels on new build homes could save families hundreds of pounds a year, while also strengthening energy security by reducing exposure to international gas markets.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the report entitled Mission Green Growth: A Strategic Plan from the Environmental Horticulture Group, published in Autumn 2024.

The government has made no assessment of the implications for the Department’s policies of the report entitled Mission Green Growth: A Strategic Plan from the Environmental Horticulture Group, published in Autumn 2024.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take through the proposed long-term housing strategy to help (a) improve social housing and (b) build new homes.

The government intends to publish a long-term housing strategy later this year.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Building Regulations Act 2010 to introduce mandatory reporting on embodied carbon emissions for projects (a) with a gross internal area of 1000m2 or more and (b) that create more than 10 dwellings to help meet the UK's climate change commitments.

Reducing embodied carbon emissions from the built environment is a key part of meeting the country’s net zero targets. These emissions predominantly come from the supply chains leading to new buildings, and there is work across government to decarbonise those supply chains. The Building Regulations are one of several mechanisms that could be used to encourage reporting of embodied carbon in construction, and my department is currently considering the role they might play.