Robin Nicholson, chairman of the last government’s Zero Carbon Schools Task Force, has joined a growing number of people opposing moves by the Department of Education’s plans to lower sustainability requirements in schools.

Nicholson has penned a letter to Michael Gove, the current Education Secretary, voicing the opposition’s concerns about the scrapping of BREEAM regulations when it comes to building new schools. Although no official announcement has been made, it is widely believed that the Department of Education are planning to make this move. UK Green Building Council chief executive, Paul King and Aldersgate Group chairman, Peter Young, have also written a letter to Gove on the same matter.

In his letter to the Education Secretary, Robin Nicholson urged the government to reconvene the Zero Carbon Schools Task Force, “so we can explain to you and your officials how Energy and Carbon Savings can be made at little or no additional cost to prepare your estate for a more sustainable future”. “The construction industry has responded pretty well to [the BREEAM] challenge, as it usually does…BREEAM Excellent has delivered significant carbon savings at next to no cost. “So please do not abandon BREEAM until there has been a full review of its impact and the key elements relocated.”

The Department of Education have advised that they are still considering recommendations made by the James Review. This report criticised the BREEAM regulations, saying the excessive burden of regulation and guidance, alongside high costs involved in BREEAM pre-assessments were a major concern.

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