Some 18 months after its initial introduction, the Code for Sustainable Homes has become an increasingly familiar environmental benchmark. It is already mandatory for schemes supported by English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation, and is a certification requirement for all new homes completed from 1 May 2008 onwards. Ahead of the 2010 deadline by which all new housing must meet level three of the code, it is useful to review how widely the recommendations are being adopted, the additional cost to developers, and the best combination of features to achieve accreditation.

The accreditation landscape is complicated by reference back to the superseded BREEAM EcoHomes standard, which has quite different assessment criteria and outcomes from those set out in the newer code.

Making the transition from EcoHomes to the Code for Sustainable Homes has been a technical and economic challenge.With the market in its present state, it is perhaps not surprising that many housebuilders have chosen to obtain a nil-rated certificate under the Code, confirming that their developments have been completed to comply with Building Regulations only.