ECO HOUSE BUILDING STANDARDS TO BE RELAXED ALLOWING MORE POLLUTION.

Shares in some of the UK’s biggest housebuilders rose sharply last month, on the news that the government proposed to relax rules that would have hindered them from polluting waterways. The nutrient neutrality rules would mean they had to clean up wetlands and other damaged areas, if they built houses that could overload a local sewage system. The government announced it would scrap the requirement, and the impact on housing shares was dramatic increasing their share values by many percentage points. These impacts clearly illustrate how closely the fate of housebuilders and the construction sector is tied to government actions. Little wonder that the builders are so keen to wade into the political arena as major donors. Nutrient neutrality is just one part of a much bigger picture, as the Guardian’s investigation into political donations from the housing industry shows. Housebuilders have benefited to the tune of billions from delays over the past eight years to rules that would have required them to build new homes to a low-carbon standard. With new systems and methods such as passiv housing, screwed piles, built in heat pumps and heat recovery units eco friendly homes are quicker, cheaper and more liveable than conventional concrete and brick, taking a fraction of the erection times and far less disruption to the surroundings. The profits are more controllable and maintenance simpler. The carcass of the building can be prefabricated and waste reduced enormously. Rainwater harvesting , septic tank drainage and underground water storage between the piles ensuring less demand on local utilities. With solar, battery storage, triple glazing and extensive insulation the power usage is a fraction of conventional construction.