The report entitled 'Building a sustainable future' published by NextGeneration, of which WWF is a partner, examines the sustainability policies of the UK's top 20 house builders, several of which are active in Wales.

The Berkeley Group, Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey (now merged to form Taylor Wimpey), Countryside Properties and Crest Nicholson are named in the report as the top companies.
Of the 20, Redrow, Barratt, Wimpey, Persimmon and Castlemead have a significant presence in Wales.

The analysis shows that these 20 home builders, responsible for building more than half of all new homes in the UK last year, have recognised the importance of sustainability and are getting to grips with the challenge of making new homes low and zero-carbon in the next decade, contributing to the Welsh Assembly Government's (WAG) aspiration for all new buildings in Wales to be zero carbon by 2011.
WWF Cymru has welcomed WAG's tough ambition which exceeds the commitment in England to have zero-carbon homes by 2016.

In some areas, companies in the sector are taking the challenge seriously; of the top 20 home builders:

• 70% report publicly on their approach to sustainability.
• 65% have waste management strategies in place.
• 60% have set targets to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

However, the analysis also highlights that there is a large gap between where the industry is now and where it needs to be if the government's vision for all new buildings in Wales to be zero carbon by 2011. The sector needs to raise its game quickly to keep up with the very rapid pace of change required to deliver WAG's climate change agenda. Of the top 20 home builders:

• 60% recognise climate change as a significant issue to the sector, but none has a climate change policy in place.
• Only 25% have an understanding of the carbon footprint of their operations.
• Only 15% have sustainable procurement policies.

The report discovered that Redrow has exceptionally good procurement policy and is the only house builder benchmarked which is a member of WWF's Forest and Trade Network which means that they specify the highest environmental standards for wood materials.

The benchmark report draws an important 'line in the sand' for the home building industry and explores the political, commercial and practical challenges that must be bridged if sustainable homes and communities are to become a reality.

Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru said:
"Currently our homes account for 27% of our carbon emissions so in order to meet Wales' target of reducing emissions by 20% by 2020 it's vital that home builders embrace their important role in helping to meet this target.

"New homes offer a significant opportunity to minimise our carbon emissions and reduce fuel bills for households, but although the industry is responding well, progress is still far too slow especially if Wales is to meet its ambitions target of all new homes to be zero carbon by 2011."

Rachel Crossley, Insight Investment said:
"Those companies that can capitalise on the coming home building boom the government has committed to, while at the same time finding the most cost-effective ways of building sustainable homes will be tomorrow's winners. Critical to success will be investment in innovation and a willingness to break from the past to design and deliver homes that are both efficient and adaptable to the changing, but uncertain, future climate."