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The government has cancelled a 16 December launch of its consultation on heat and energy efficiency. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said it was 鈥渟till working鈥� on the policy document.

A source close to the matter said: 鈥淲e gather it鈥檚 taking a while to get the detail right having put energy saving together with heat and also the package of stuff announced by the prime minister last autumn, which is also being consulted on.鈥�

Simon McWhirter, UK Homes campaigner for the WWF, said that a delay on rolling out policy to improve existing homes would 鈥渃ompound the dent in confidence caused by a lack of clarity on the definition of zero carbon.鈥�

鈥淚f it鈥檚 true that this has happened for the second time, it is nothing less than continuing and continued missed opportunities: missed creation of green collar jobs, missed carbon reduction and missed potential investment opportunities.鈥�

But John Alker, public affairs manager, UK Green 好色先生TV Council (UK-GBC), which is representing industry in the consultation, said it was worth investing time up front in such a radical shift on existing housing stock policy: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a shame the government consultation has slipped,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut ultimately this should set the future direction of policy for the next 10 to 15 years, so it鈥檚 important that it鈥檚 right 鈥� not rushed.鈥�

Incorporating off-the-cuff statements about fuel poverty that Gordon Brown made in September is believed to be causing the delay.

Energy used in heating accounts for some 47% of all UK carbon dioxide emissions according to the department. The consultation will feed into policy on the renewable heat incentive, which the department said was 18 months away.

Sources still expect DCLG to unveil a zero carbon definition before year end despite months of delay.

The government denied it had official announced the date of the consultation despite widespread industry expectation of its launch this year.