<p>The consultation on Allowable Solutions, delayed from earlier in the year, was launched in the summer. Allowable Solutions are a means of hitting the zero carbon standard for homes, through carbon offsetting and other measures. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has proposed that housebuilders can reach the standard through any combination of four options:</p> <p> </p> <p>■ Undertake the full 100% reduction in carbon on site or via connected measures (eg a heat network)</p> <p> </p> <p>■ Achieve the remaining carbon abatement requirement through off-site measures – eg retrofitting existing homes or through building to a higher standard than the current Part L</p> <p> </p> <p>■ Use a third party Allowable Solutions provider to deliver the requirement according to the housebuilder’s obligations</p> <p> </p> <p>■ Pay into a fund which invests in carbon abatement projects on the housebuilder’s behalf</p> <p> </p> <p>Linden Homes said that the option to pay into a fund and retrofit existing stock was similar to its own payment fund solution – the Linden Homes New Homes Sustainability Bonus (NHSB). Group md of housebuilding Andrew Richards, explained: "It’s geared to retrofitting the existing housing stock,rather than imposing additional regulation and disproportionate additional costs on …