A Manchester taskforce has come together to urge city leaders to adopt a carbon net zero policy for all new buildings by 2023. Construction Enquirer reports that the group is made up of private, public, and third sector representatives, known as the Manchester Climate Change Partnership.

The ambitious targets would require all new buildings to meet net zero emissions as standard, and should also be able to demonstrate a significant reduction in embodied carbon in construction from 2023. The proposals will be considered at the upcoming autumn-winter consultation of the local plan.

Luthfur Rahman, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is committed to becoming a zero carbon city. The Partnership’s Roadmap, including the proposed Manchester New Build Standard, is a welcome contribution to the important discussion about how we will achieve this goal.”

He added: “The issue of climate change will be at the heart of the forthcoming refresh of Manchester’s Local Plan. We will look at how our planning and development system can support zero carbon objectives, and we will consider the Partnership’s proposals as part of this process.”

The UK is expected to announce further measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry at the upcoming COP26 Conference in Glasgow in November. These are likely to include a range of government policies and industry actions to manage the transition to net zero, which will be in line with other first world nations.

There is currently a focus on the retrofitting of existing housing stock, to make them more energy efficient, with better insulation and double glazing. Fossil fuel boilers will be phased out by 2030, and new homes will be encouraged or required to use green heating technologies such as hydrogen, or air or ground source heat pumps.  

For structural glazing contractors, please get in touch today.