Green building standards 'will slow city's growth'

NEW building standards risk slowing down housing development in the Capital even further, an industry group said today.

The Scottish Government yesterday unveiled new rules that will come into force in October that will mean emissions of new buildings will have to be 30 per cent lower than 2007 standards.

However, Edinburgh-based Homes For Scotland said that the rules will hit development.

Jonathan Fair, the group's chief executive, said: "The home building industry remains fully supportive of the sustainability agenda and is already leading the way towards a low-carbon economy, but this momentum must be balanced against technical and affordability constraints.

"At a time when our industry has already reduced the carbon emissions of new homes by 60 per cent from 1990 levels, the question is whether new home buyers are willing to incur premiums of up to 8,000 for low-carbon living or 'bolt-on renewables' which seem to offer little in the way of payback."