The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has rejected the analysis published by the National Housing Federation (NHF) that private developers are not meeting their sustainability targets.

NHF’s Chief Executive David Orr claims that the private housing industry is behind on reaching zero carbon targets putting the 2016 target at risk of not being met.

Responding, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, Stewart Baseley, said: "The NHF's criticisms are wide of the mark and deeply unhelpful. The Government’s policy is to initially promote higher standards through public housing. These standards apply to all developers, including private developers delivering affordable housing.

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"Imposing stringent and overbearing regulations on developers beyond this policy would ultimately lead to fewer homes being built, not more. I hope Mr Orr recognises that this is unacceptable."

Mr Baseley also went on to say members of the HBF were working hard to improve the environmental performance of all their homes, but they require the methods to do so, in order to build up sufficiency supply chain capacity to meet demand.

He concluded: "The Government’s policy framework on environmental standards is the right way to achieve the hugely challenging 2016 zero carbon target."

(JM)