2025 Action Scorecards

Question · Action Scorecards 2025

Does the council set a requirement that all new homes to be built must be operationally (regulated) net zero?

Question code
3.3c
Section
Planning & Land Use
Topic
New Homes - Net zero requirements
Source
Volunteer Research
Question weight
High

Criteria

Two-tier criteria
First tier criteria met if the council requires new homes to be operationally net zero with the policy implemented from 2030 to 2040.

Second tier criteria met if the council requires new homes to be operationally net zero with the policy already implemented since 2019 or with implementation by 2030.

Any date to implement the policy after 2040 would not be awarded points.

This would be equivalent for Scottish authorities to mandate the 'Platinum' building standard for carbon emissions for all new buildings.

Clarifications

For operationally net zero policies, we will accept those that define this as only concerning regulated emissions. Definitions for operationally net zero and regulated emissions are below.

Operationally net zero: "When the amount of carbon emissions associated with the building’s operational energy on an annual basis is zero or negative. A net zero carbon building is highly energy efficient and powered from on-site and/or off-site renewable energy sources, with any remaining carbon balance offset.” Definition from:
https://ukgbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Net-zero-carbon-buildings-and-infrastructure-pdf.pdf

Regulated emissions: "Emissions generated through building energy consumption resulting from the specification of controlled, fixed building services and fittings, including space heating and cooling, hot water, ventilation, fans, pumps and lighting. Such energy uses are inherent in the design of a building." For more information: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Regulated_and_unregulated_energy_consumption

If the council is achieving net zero homes through cash-in-lieu contributions or offsets this will not count for this question. However, if the council provides an exception that offsetting is allowed where a net zero home may not be technically feasible this will still be valid.

When marking the Planning section we will assess a Regulation 19 draft local plan or the latest adopted Local Plan or Supplementary Planning Document from the council.

Question performance by council type

Points distribution Northern Irish councils

0 points

11 Northern Irish councils

1 point

0 Northern Irish councils

2 points

0 Northern Irish councils

Note: “in 2023” counts show how the councils listed below were marked on this question in 2023. This list of councils may be slightly different to the list of councils originally assessed on this question in 2023, due to the creation and abolition of councils between Scorecard years.

Rising and falling Northern Irish councils

00
councils scored higher in 2025
00
councils scored lower in 2025

Scores and evidence Northern Irish councils

CouncilScoreDifference2023Evidence
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Ards and North Down Borough Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Belfast City Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Derry City and Strabane District Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Mid Ulster District Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Score 2025
0/2
2023 Difference
--
0/2--No evidence found