The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICs) commissioned research from CCHPR with the aim of raising the profile of RICS at a regional level in the policy debates on sustainability and climate change.
The UK government set ambitious targets for reductions in carbon emissions in order to meet its global obligations. An overall target of an 80% reduction on 1990 emission levels by 2050 has been set and alongside this, a specific target for reductions in carbon emissions from newly-built housing has been set, of achieving zero carbon by 2016. These targets have been set at national level but much of the basis of economic activity has a local and regional dimension as do housing markets. The aim of this study was to investigate the specific characteristics of housing markets in the RICS East and East Midlands regions in the context of these targets. The study drew conclusions about the degree to which national targets are consistent with regional patterns of housing market behaviour and urban development. The study was based primarily on existing data, together with a focus group meeting with RICS members in the regions to present and discuss the findings. The outcome will be a seminar to launch the final report.
UK Government National Carbon Reduction Targets and Regional Housing Market Dynamics: Compatible or Contradictory, Report
This study, funded by the RICS, addressed whether the government’s national carbon reduction targets for housing were capable of being met in the two RICS regions of the East Midlands and the East of England. It found that they could, provided sufficient resources were made available.
The aim of this study was to address the question of whether the government’s national carbon reduction targets for housing are capable of being achieved in the two RICS regions of the East Midlands and the East of England. The report found that the targets could be met in both regions provided sufficient resources were allocated to achieving them. The two main measures – improving the energy efficiency of dwellings and increasing renewable energy supply – on their own would go a long way towards meeting them. However, the behaviour of residents is crucial and in order to change behaviour, education, regulation or incentives are required – and on the evidence of other attempts to change attitudes and behaviour, all three will be needed. One important finding was the lack of consistent information about carbon emissions from housing and how these can be reduced, in a form that is easily available, particularly at regional level.