The Government's drive towards zero carbon housing took a step forward yesterday with the announcement that all new homes are to be rated on their green credentials from May 1st.

A rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes, which measures nine categories of sustainable design including energy, water and waste, will be required for all new homes.

Homes which exceed the sustainable standards in existing Building Regulations will be awarded up to six stars. Those homes that have not been assessed against the Code will score a nil-rating.

Speaking at the Eco Build 2008 conference yesterday, Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "By requiring a rating for all new homes against the Code for Sustainable Homes in the run up to 2016, we are making the standards that different homes reach more transparent and are creating an important incentive for house builders to provide greener, more sustainable homes."

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Welcoming the news Paul King of the UK Green Building Council said: "The Code for Sustainable Homes will fundamentally change the way we build and buy new homes in this country. Buyers of new homes, for the first time, will see how green their home is - not just on its carbon emissions, but on other vital issues such as water consumption and impact on biodiversity.

"This will help stimulate the market for green building as consumers demand more sustainable homes that have lower energy bills, are built producing less needless waste and that are great places to live."

He said that while there were still challenges to overcome to bring sustainable homes genuinely into the mainstream "this represents a vitally important step and one for which Government should be congratulated."

(VB/JM)