Expansion planned in the Thames Gateway, Ashford and Milton Keynes, could be a "marvellous opportunity" to tackle climate change, University College London's Jo Williams said.

In an article published in the new edition of the 'Journal of Environmental Planning and Management' Dr Williams argues that environmental performance standards set by the government for new housing are not stringent enough, and that there has not been adequate investment in the technologies, support services and infrastructure needed to deliver green housing for the growth regions.

Household growth, a growing economy and a lack of affordable accommodation in the South East have resulted in the government introducing the most ambitious housing growth policies since the 1960s.

The Code for Sustainable Homes aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and introduce greater energy and water efficiency, recycling facilities, sustainable building materials and waste and ecological considerations.

But while publicly-funded homes must currently meet the three-star grade, compared with the top 6-star rating for the most zero-carbon homes with state of the art technology, the code is voluntary for private builds.

The paper concludes that the government should make the current 6-star standard for sustainable homes mandatory for all new housing, and invest in the technology, infrastructure and knowledge needed to support its delivery.

Dr Williams said: "Contrary to popular belief, cost is not the key barrier to developing higher environmental standards in housing. Insufficient regulatory standards and poor technological, infrastructural and knowledge capacity are the key barriers to overcome." 

"The housing programme provides government with an excellent opportunity to move towards its carbon reduction targets, but to do so will require higher performance standards becoming mandatory for all new housing.

The government needs to address this urgently and provide the investment to ensure that environmentally sustainable housing does not come at the price of exacerbating the housing shortage."