Over Taylor Biggs

By October 2008, this will extend to all buildings of more than 1,000m².

In addition and following a vote in the European Parliament at the end of January 2008, the Commission is now considering more radical changes to the earlier directive.  This is understood to be in response to the lack of implementation of the provisions throughout much of the European Union, coupled with variations in how the directive is actually being complied with.

So far as the UK is concerned, the problem has been delay in publication of the criteria by which energy performance is to be calculated.

Final details were only published in late January 2008, leaving some 10 weeks before needing to be ready for implementation.  There is a widespread expectation, therefore, that many will have been unable to arrange for appropriate certification in time.  This is expected to affect the smaller landlords and developers without the resources to anticipate the directive's requirements. 

Under UK provisions, certificates will only be needed after 6 April 2008 if a building is to be sold or let.  Buildings in excess of 2,500m² will require to be certified by 1 July 2008, with all buildings covered by October 2008.

The European Parliament believes that only 8 member states have complied with the directive.  The adverse effect on environmental targets by those member states failing to comply with the legislation appears to be the driving force.  This may have led to the vote requiring performance certificates for all buildings (and not just those that are larger than 1,000m²).

There has been criticism (familiar to some) that the UK standards are higher than others, with a two stage approach affecting commercial and non-commercial buildings or public and private buildings, possibly to allow more time for assessors to compile the data needed to publish the necessary certificate.