Entitled Volume – Delivering Sustainable Housing, the study highlights the challenges facing the housing sector in terms of environmental construction, and centres on the Stamford Brook housing development in Cheshire.

Standing on National Trust land, this project demonstrates high environmental standards in a large scale housing development, with the design using climate change projections that look 100 years into the future. The houses here offer significant water and energy savings.

Stamford Brook illustrates the green building improvements that can be made by using traditional cavity wall construction, and the project has highlighted the lack of a supply chain that is able to deliver good quality green building products.

There is a need to invest in skills and training to improve this, the report argues.

The National Trust’s Rob Jarman said: “A strong sense of direction from government and wholehearted support from the construction industry is vital if we’re to achieve the target that all new homes should be zero carbon by 2016.

“Action is needed to bridge the gap between the aspirations of policy-makers to create a greener housing stock and the reality of what is happening in the construction industry where the supply chain cannot deliver the volume of sustainable products needed.”

Ben Meggeson

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe