The Scottish Government has said it is exploring what policies and financial incentives it could use to encourage wider take-up of retrofits and other measures that support net zero carbon emissions in construction.
A paper backing plans for the transition to net zero suggests a discussion on what levers the government could use “to encourage modernization and renewal over demolition and rebuilding”.
The government’s discussion paper to support the commitment to its just transition plan for the built environment and construction sector also asks: “There are financial mechanisms that could be explored to incentivize businesses to invest in zero net that they achieve wider benefits for local communities?”
The administration is seeking the views of construction workers and other stakeholders before releasing a draft plan for consultation in late 2023 or early 2024.
The document covers five broad themes: recruitment, the workforce, innovation, standards and the manufacturing base in Scotland.
He says that with the built environment and the construction sector accounting for 40 percent of the country’s emissions, “our approach to the built environment will transform in the coming years” to reach net zero.
This will “require greater consideration of the life cycle of buildings and the performance of the building fabric”, as well as changes in the approaches used for planning and design and the choices made about materials and methods.
The document recognizes that “it is often cheaper to build a new building than to renovate an existing one”. But he says investing in good design processes and sustainable materials can lead to savings over the lifespan of buildings.
It highlights a suggestion by the Green Alliance think tank that pre-demolition assessments should be carried out before planning permission is granted to replace existing buildings.
He also notes that the UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee has made several recommendations to encourage modernization. These include the introduction of a mandatory requirement to carry out lifetime carbon assessments of buildings.
Other points of discussion suggested by the document include how to ensure that modernization activity “focuses on more resource-efficient construction” and how to communicate and drive adoption of the necessary changes.
The paper also argues that the construction sector “must move to more sustainable methods that prioritize circular economy considerations”. He points to the Netherlands as a “leading example” of a country with a circular building industry “supported by regulations and financial incentives”.
The paper’s suggestions are based on previous evidence gathering and industry engagement.
