The Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) has welcomed the housing green paper, which was unveiled this week by housing minister Yvette Cooper.

The institute highlighted Ms Cooper's recognition of the need for design quality to be built into the government's plans and proposals for a mandatory Code for Sustainable Homes for all new homes.

However, president Jack Pringle said: "Given the importance of tackling the energy efficiency of the 21 million existing homes in England, the government must come forward rapidly with a detailed programme to upgrade the energy performance of those homes if it is to meet its own carbon reduction targets."

Mr Pringle also noted that recent events have highlighted the devastating effects of flooding.

"An immediate lesson is that we cannot continue building on flood plains as if nothing has happened," he said.

"But houses have to go somewhere - and house-building and design must go hand in hand if we are to find long-term responses to our current housing needs."

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Author:  Joanne McCabe

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