Housebuilders have called for the government to suspend its plan to make new homes zero-carbon by 2016, after the housing minister admitted that 鈥渇lexibility鈥 was needed.

The House Builders Association (HBA), which represents smaller builders, has written to Margaret Beckett, calling for her to reduce regulatory costs on the industry.

The submission said the government should introduce an emergency circular informing councils that homes do not have to meet the code.

The submission follows a speech given on Beckett鈥檚 behalf last week to the National House-好色先生TV Council, in which she declared the government should not be 鈥渄ogmatic鈥 about how the zero-carbon target was reached.

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