Homes built to align with climate targets
With regulations looming, new build buyers can future-proof their purchase
There is no doubt that overall sentiment around net zero targets for housing in Scotland is one of both urgency and ambition. The Scottish Government has set a target for net zero emissions by 2045, with interim targets of 75 per cent by 2030 and 90 per cent by 2040.
With the Climate Change Committee recently declaring that the 2030 target is now beyond what is credible, there will be even more pressure on making significant changes to housing (new and existing) to support Scotland’s climate change ambitions.
The Heat in Buildings Bill, currently under consultation and likely to be brought in next year, aims to transition homes and buildings to clean heating systems and improve energy efficiency. Regulations are also expected to phase out polluting fossil fuel heating systems entirely by 2045. Homeowners will need to consider alternative clean heating options such as heat pumps to comply with these future standards.
Navigating these upcoming regulations can be daunting and not a little confusing in terms of what regulations will apply and when. In our own business, we are seeing people wanting to future-proof their investment. For these purchasers, the attraction of a sustainable new build home extends above and beyond location, specification and amenity, to the proactive design approach, meaning homes are built with future regulations in mind.
West Shore, a development of 56 apartments by CCG Group as part of the Granton Waterfront regeneration, offers a glimpse into how housing can meet the demands of a sustainable future.
The development is the first of its kind in Edinburgh designed to achieve so-called regulated operational net zero carbon. All heating and hot water services for the homes are served by an onsite energy centre where, instead of gas boilers, a total of 10 industrialscale air-source heat pumps and eight water-to-water pumps combine at one centralised location. West Shore serves as an example of how forwardthinking developers are creating homes that align with Scotland's ambitious climate goals.