Productivity plan is death knell for zero-carbon homes, say campaigners

Conservationists say decision to drop energy-efficiency plans and emissions target is short-sighted and damaging to housebuilding industry

The government's sweeping review of how to improve productivity across a range of areas, including planning and higher education, has been criticised by campaigners as the death knell for zero-carbon homes.

Energy conservationists are angry at announcements in the productivity paper released on Friday, which drops plans for higher on-site energy efficiency, as well as a separate target for zero-carbon emissions for non-domestic buildings by 2019.