Seven out of ten builders say regulations to force people to make energy efficiency improvements won’t work

Seven out of ten builders think the government’s proposed changes to building regulations that would force homeowners to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes when making other improvements are not feasible, a survey by the Federation of Master Builders has found.

The results come as the government closes its consultation today on the proposed changes to Part L of the building regulations.

The planned changes to Part L of the Building Regulations would make it compulsory for building owners to upgrade the energy efficiency of their buildings as a consequence of making other improvements.

The survey of 363 builders found that 70% said the changes were not technically, functionally or economically feasible.

A further 73% said the changes would make homeowners undertake less work and 69% said it would increase the use of cowboy builders.

Just over half of all respondents also said the changes in their current form would not be enforcable by building control officers.

Peter O’Connell, policy manager at the FMB, said: ““Like it or not, the government is going to have to face up to the fact that if it wants people to retrofit their homes it is going to have to provide meaningful incentives that make them want the improvements.”