Poorly performing properties could be hit with vehicle excise duty style levies, a leading property chief has warned.

Speaking at the SCORe conference run by refurbishment specialists Overbury, Matt Fulford, Head of Sustainability at EC Harris, also warned that even those buildings that meet all Part L building regulations will only achieve a grade C energy performance certificate (EPC).

Most current commercial properties can only expect a low F or G rating under the recently introduced EPC scheme.

Meanwhile, the British Property Federation's (BPF) Chief Executive Liz Peace added that "the property industry should not be expected to run power stations", in regard to increasing renewable energy commitments. Ms Peace asserted the need for a clear measurement system, adding that on-site renewable targets were not the answer.

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Mr Fulford added that "up to 35% of carbon savings could be made with little or no cost", meaning that property owners should look at tenants' behaviour before engaging on costly refurbishments. But he said that "the difference between C and F rated buildings was £18 per m2 per year in additional costs", adding a potentially massive burden to business.

Mr Fulford said: "The future for properties could be like vehicle excise duty, perhaps linked to business rates or stamp duty. We know there is a showroom tax on high polluting cars and this is very similar to stamp duty.

"In central urban environments it's really problematic and might not even pay back the carbon cost, let alone the cost. Particularly in central London, it is unfeasible. The key is to put on-site renewables where they can best work."

It is estimated that around half of the UK's carbon emissions are connected with buildings.

(CD/JM)