Code for Sustainable Homes, October to December 2010

Statistics relating to the Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) show the number of dwellings that have been certified to the standards set out in the Code Technical Guide. Code certificates are issued at two stages, the design stage and post construction stage.

Dwellings are awarded a star rating (one star being the lowest achievable level and six stars being a zero carbon home). If a dwelling does not achieve the mandatory standards and/or does not reach the minimum score for a one star rating, it will receive a certificate with no stars. The assessment and certification of Code homes is undertaken by the 1,372 assessors, who are licensed by BRE Global Ltd or Stroma Accreditation Ltd.

Between April 2007 and December 2010:

• Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 40,017 dwellings have received a three star rating at the design stage and 289 dwellings have received a six star rating (i.e. zero carbon home).
• Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 16,513 dwellings have received a three star rating at post-construction stage and 30 dwellings have received a six star rating (i.e. zero carbon home).
• A total of 86 per cent of the certificates at design stage and 90 per cent of those at post-construction stage have been awarded at Code level 3 since April 2007.
• Of the 46,519 certificates issued at the design phase, 852 were issued in Wales, whilst 182 of the 18,339 post-construction certificates were issued in Wales.

Average energy efficiency (SAP) rating of new homes

SAP refers to the Government’s ‘Standard Assessment Procedure’ for assessing the energy performance of dwellings. The SAP rating is expressed on a scale of 1 to 100 – the higher the number, the lower the running costs.

The energy efficiency rating, on a quarterly basis, is volatile due to a number of factors including the mix of dwelling types, the mix of heating systems used in new developments and the location of those developments where there are a small number of new homes being assessed in some of these categories.

The key points for April to December 2010 are:

• The average energy efficiency, SAP rating, of new homes in Wales was 80.6 compared to 81.7 in England.
• Across England and Wales, the average energy efficiency (SAP rating) of new homes varied from 80.6 in the Wales to 82.8 in London.
• In Wales, the average energy (SAP rating) by dwelling type, ranged from 78.7 for bungalows to 82.5 for maisonettes.
• Overall, England had higher average SAP ratings than Wales for houses and bungalows, but lower average SAP ratings than Wales for maisonettes. In both England and Wales, a SAP rating of 81.6 was seen for flats.

Please note these figures are not classed as National Statistics.

Further information

Communities and Local Government website: Code for Sustainable Homes, October-December 2010.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 3295
E-mail: stats.housing@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

May 2011 (provisional - to be confirmed on 'Due out Soon' page)