<p>Communities secretary Ruth Kelly has set down the government’s desire to make the Thames Gateway “a low and then zero-carbon development, with no net emissions from new development.”The policy objective, contained in the Thames Gateway interim plan, will have major implications for housebuilders. Crest Nicholson chief executive Stephen Stone insisted that the government needs to be equally focused on infrastructure provision, to ensure the Gateway is an economically viable development proposition. But he said: “Sustainability and renewable energy objectives are here to stay, and any developers who ignore this will find it more and more difficult to acquire land before too long.”</p> <p>Following the publication of the Treasurycommissioned Stern report, which warned of the severe economic consequences of global warming, the government is ramping up its demands on businesses. Former World Bank economist Sir Nicholas Stern recommended that the planning system be used as a key tool to regulate development to take account of climate change. The Queen’s speech on November 14 revealed the forthcoming introduction of a climate change Bill, which will give statutory force to the government’s aim to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050 and establish an independent emission reduction monitoring body. A draft planning policy …