Net-zero rules set to send cost of new homes and extensions soaring

They came into force in England last week to help the UK hit environmental goals by 2050, but this means short-term pain for long-term gain

New building regulations aimed at improving energy efficiency are set to increase the price of new homes, as well as those of extensions and loft conversions on existing ones.

The rules, which came into effect on Wednesday in England, are part of government plans to reduce the UK's carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. They set new standards for ventilation, energy efficiency and heating, and state that new residential buildings must have charging points for electric vehicles.