GIDLEY GUARANTEES TO FIGHT FOR GREEN HOUSING

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Apr 2008

As developers 'eye-up' land in the southern Test Valley for thousands of new houses, Hampshire and Southampton MP Sandra Gidley has pledged her support for a campaign calling for all new homes to meet higher environmental standards.

The National Housing Federation's 'Green Homes Now!' campaign highlights inconsistencies in new building rules which mean that private developers will be able to build to lower environmental standards than social housing providers.

The Federation fears this will mean millions of tonnes of unnecessary carbon emissions emitted over the lifetime of the new homes and will also lead to higher fuel bills for residents in Hampshire and across the UK.

Commenting today on the initiative, Sandra said:

"I welcome the introduction of higher environmental standards for new homes, but tackling climate change needs commitment across the board. We can't approach this with a 'one rule for some, one rule for others' attitude.

"In addition to the environmental benefits of better housing, a well insulated, energy efficient home can also cut fuel bills substantially. This is particularly important for those local people on fixed incomes such as pensioners.

"Environmentally friendly houses need to become the norm rather than the exception."

Sandra, who has long campaigned against the building of local homes on prime farmland added:

"Whilst there is a housing shortage in the South East, we need to ensure that new homes aren't built at the expense of the local environment. We need good local housing that is green - not bad housing on greenbelt."

National Housing Federation Chief Executive David Orr commented:

"I'm very pleased Sandra Gidley MP and so many others have backed our campaign.

"Local private developers need to be brought into line with housing associations and asked to cut emissions sooner rather than later."

ENDS