Written question asked by Shahid Malik (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 April 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 April 2007. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour) on Monday, 23 April 2007 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Listed Buildings: Energy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the merits of increased flexibility in rules governing listed buildings to allow them to become more energy efficient without seriously deviating from the character of the building.

Answer: Ancient monuments and listed buildings are exempt from the Building Regulations energy efficiency requirements if compliance would unacceptably alter their character or appearance and I would not want to change this. However the Department works closely with English Heritage to encourage energy efficiency improvements whenever this is appropriate and contributes to the guidance they publish. Interim guides to compliance, where appropriate, were published in 2002 and updated in 2004 and a further comprehensive guide is, I understand, to be published shortly.

Secondary information