It was initially agreed that there has been much debate around government policy towards housing and planning, and within the current policy framework, around new and existing stock, and commercial development, in particular. The government's embarkation on a major programme to increase the level of house building was argued as pivotal in addressing issues of supply and affordability, however it was highlighted that improvement in environmental standards for new homes is also needed. The decent homes programme for existing homes, along with microgeneration grants and insulation measures were seen as important steps towards the realisation of zero carbon homes, but it was acknowledged that we also need to reconsider other fundamental factors such as how we heat and power our homes. With regards to commercial development, questions arose over the application of those policy frameworks used for housing, and whether there are implicit difficulties and obstacles to this approach. It was suggested that new thinking in this area is needed.

Participants highlighted local, regional and national disparities in environmental planning policies and regulations as problematic and in need of further attention. It was argued that ultimately all local authorities should be able to work effectively within the Code for Sustainable Homes framework, and that local government is in a prime position to make significant progress on the instigation of environmental standards. The framework is already in place for local authorities to gain more autonomy and set their own trajectories, and planning authorities now have clearly defined expectations, such as a 10 year timetable for building regulations, which sets out a clear national framework for action.

Energy Performance Certificates were also argued to be a fundamental aspect of the zero carbon framework, however the need for better classification and greater visibility was highlighted. Participants noted that Energy Performance Certificates can be effectively used as a tool for compliance, with scope to use in many different areas, for example linking compliance to grants, or fixed penalties. The monitoring and enforcement of compliance was also seen as key, and it was argued that environmental standards and regulations are often used to mitigate action at a local level. There was also concern over private renters, and participants stressed the importance of the applicability of regulations to private sector landlords, to ensure that those least able to control their own environment are afforded protection.

The development of new technologies and the promotion of innovation was also seen as essential if we are to make progress towards zero carbon homes. The environmental impact of construction materials for example should be addressed, and within the contemporary building industry there are now numerous alternative natural building methods being developed; hemp and lime are becoming increasingly popular for example. Within this debate, the need to ensure that migrogeneration is sustainable in the long term, and effective, was seen as vital, with the focus of success on outputs not merely the proportion or total number of renewables.

In terms of moving forward, the adoption of a zonal approach to development was seen as one possibility, as well as the need for proactive mandatory legislation. Domestic action, it was argued, is fundamental to making international action possible; continuously making strong statements was seen as profoundly ineffective. It was noted that the UK should be in a strong position to set a pivotal example to the rest of the world on our commitment and ability to implement behavioural change and meet our zero carbon targets.

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