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Chancellor Gordon Brown announced in last year's pre-budget report that the government was committed to all new homes being zero carbon-rated by 2012.  The Code for Sustainable Homes is central to realising this aim.  It will be madatory for publicly funded housing from April.  Initially voluntary for privately funded developments, it will be madatory for all new homes from April 2008.  The code sets minimum standards for energy and water efficiency, promotes renewable energy and most importantly, does not allow improvements undertaken in one area to be traded against lower performances in another.  Part L of the Building Regulations came into force in April 2006, requiring "reasonable provision"  for fuel and power conservation, and that owners be given information about a buildings energy performance in order for it to be used efficiently.

Building Design the industry weekly newspaper contacted all 377 local authorities in England and Wales for a survey.  Each planning department was asked five questions covering its readiness for the Code for Sustainable Homes: its current sustainability demands; and its views on the governments target to make all new homes zero carbon-rated by 2016.  More than 100 authorities responded.  Many senior officers commented on the "nightmare" of the existing legislation, and were dismayed at the prospect of trying to implement the code without more funding and training.