On behalf of CPA and WPA members, London Property Alliance has expressed its support for the concept of the draft UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard (NZCBS), recognising its potential as an industry-wide, valuable tool to guide the real estate sector towards more sustainable practices and achieve industry Net Zero alignment.
However, whilst we endorse its objectives, the Alliance notes some key areas for improvement and proposes the following recommendations:
- Introduce interim assessment and verification stages to allow developers and landlords to track progress and ensure continuous improvement.
- Ensure that the Standard considers elements of the building that landlords do not have control over i.e. access and fit out. We recommend including an option for landlords to be able to declare Net Zero alignment for areas under its control.
- The targets within the Standard appear, at face value, to be significantly more challenging than the wider industry pathway targets. We recommend providing clearer explanation on the basis of these targets and how they were benchmarked against existing pathways.
- Acknowledge the unique challenges faced by heritage buildings and consider further guidance or separate targets for their alignment with the Standard.
- The Standard is comprehensive but also complex and difficult to understand. We propose revising the Standard’s format for improved clarity and accessibility, facilitating wider adoption.
- The industry is currently adhering to a wide range of accepted standards and definitions of Net Zero. To avoid duplication, we recommend ensuring there is alignment with existing standards and certification schemes like NABERS UK.
- Consider the impact and compatibility of the Standard on the planning process, noting it is already an over-burdened, complex and slow system, and this should be given careful consideration.
