By 2016 every new home built in Britain will be “carbon-zero”. Some of these homes will be in ten new eco-towns (comprising between 5,000 and 20,000 homes) to be created by 2020.

The process is already under way. Barratt, which has a 12 per cent share of the UK housing market, is at work in Watford on what will probably be Britain's first carbon-zero house from a volume builder. Barratt declined to give details of the build cost for the house, which is due for completion next month, but said that it would make a profit. By 2010 Barratt aims to have finished its proposed scheme, pictured left, for 200 carbon-zero homes on the site of the old hospital at Hanham Hall, Bristol. Other eco-villages are planned at Wigan and Doncaster.

Earlier this year the UK Green Building Council, which aims to provide a “road map” for an eco-house future, was created. Once the rules for new-build are in place, the body will turn its attention to applying green technology to old housing stock. John Alker, its director of public affairs, says: “From next year, retro-fitting houses with new green technology will be our priority.”

For more details: www.ukgbc.org

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