To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes classified as energy-efficient have been built in Castle Point in each of the last five years. (281973)

All new homes built in England in the last five years have been required to meet the energy efficiency standards set out in part L of the Building Regulations. The part L standard for new homes was raised by 25 per cent. in 2002 and by a further 20 per cent. in 2006. This requirement will progressively increase leading up to the target for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016. The following table shows the total number of new build dwellings in the East of England region for each year from 2004-05 onwards.

The Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) provides an energy rating for new dwellings by demonstrating compliance with part L of the Building Regulations. In general, homes built to current part L correspond with SAP ratings of B or C. Some homes are built to exceed minimum regulatory standards, for example as a result of building to the code for sustainable homes.

SAP is used to generate Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for new build dwellings. From 6 April 2008, it became mandatory to lodge all SAP EPCs for new build dwellings on the England and Wales Domestic EPC Register. In the constituency of Castle Point 19 SAP EPC lodgements were made in 2008 and 11 SAP EPC lodgements have been made in 2009 up to and including 29 June 2009.