A green gateway to Europe

• Graeme Maughan (Drop in the ocean, letters Jan 19) is right to be suspicious that the developers of King’s Cross are paying lip service to providing an environmental state of the art building.
He is also right to view the concept of “demonstration projects” with scorn. Zero energy developments that make efficient use of natural resources are proven technology.
However, the real scandal is that it is still legally possible and economically challenging for developers to deliver such developments, due to the failure of the government to make it more financially attractive to build well rather than to build badly – as most homes are today.
Nor have they provided any incentive to make our existing homes energy efficient at the point of sale – I’m sure many of us would be extremely pleased to obtain generous stamp duty reductions from Gordon Brown in return for ensuring that we left our old home with decent insulation and efficient boilers.
Homes consume over 40 per cent of our total energy requirement in the UK.
If readers are concerned about our long term energy security and the devastating impact of Climate Change upon our society, they can contact John Prescott’s department at enquiryodpm@odpm.gsi.gov.uk or 020 7944 4400 and tell them that they expect action to deliver high standards in the Code for Sustainable Housing and Planning requirements (PPS3), which are both out for public consultation till the end of February. Both are pitifully weak.
In the meantime we are left with Camden Council and the GLA to ensure that, through their planning negotiations, the buildings at King’s Cross have the lowest energy demand in the country.
And that solar, wind and other forms of decentralised, clean, efficient – and secure – energy are installed to make this Gateway to Europe which is on our doorstep, a fit one for this century and the next. As Camden residents, we must all let Ken Livingstone and Raj Chada know we are watching.
Suzy Edwards
Camden Friends of the Earth
Hemstal Road
NW6