March 23 2007

First Minister Jack McConnell announced yesterday that all planning applications must set out how they will cut carbon emissions by 15%, with immediate effect.

The plans relate to any development with floor space greater than 500 square metres, and are expected to trigger a rise in property prices.

Developers are now under pressure to decrease their “carbon footprint”, however the announcement comes after Chancellor Gordon Brown removed stamp duty on “zero carbon homes” in Wednesday’s budget.

Mr McConnell said: “This is just the first step. We will look to increase this 15% condition in the future. The bottom line is that we will not have an environment to protect if we do not take action on climate change.”

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