Labour must resist housebuilders’ pleas to weaken green standards, experts say

Government urged to enforce more stringent rules amid target to build 1.5m new homes this parliament

Labour must stand firm against special pleading from housebuilders, who are likely to argue against fitting out new homes to stringent green standards, experts have warned.

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, laid out sweeping changes to the planning system on Monday in her first speech on reviving economic growth while pursuing the climate goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. As well as lifting the ban on onshore wind in England, she reinstated targets on housebuilding, with 1.5m new homes to be built this parliament in England.