POLITICANS have warned that a sustainable housebuilding future for Brighton and Hove is in danger of being “watered down”.

Green councillors have spoken of their concern in the wake of the latest round of consultation for the future of housebuilding in the city in which several environmental standards are set to be reduced in the latest revisions to the City Plan.

The planning inspector has asked Brighton and Hove City Council to remove references to zero carbon homes and carbon off-setting in line with a recent change in Government policy.

Councillor Phélim MacCafferty, Green group convenor and planning spokesman, said the building industry had been pursuing zero carbon homes for a decade until the Government’s “sudden” and “arbitrary” decision to abandon it in July.

He said: “The blueprint for our city till 2030, the City Plan, developed under the Green administration, was built on a vision of sustainability.

“It is extremely disappointing that the plan is now in danger of being watered down by the current Labour council, in response to irresponsible government pressure.”

The Labour administration has said it is important for the city to heed the inspectorate’s advice and that the authority would continue to pursue the “highest standards of sustainability in new developments”.

Failing to develop a City Plan that is supported by the Planning Inspectorate would mean planning decisions would be made along the lines of the National Policy Planning Framework which has been labelled the “builder’s charter” by critics for its presumption towards development.

The latest stage of the consultation process for the City Plan was launched last week following the recent recommendations from the planning inspectorate.

Among the suggested amendments, the council has been advised to remove references to the proposed 2016 zero carbon standard, the increase in on-site energy efficiency standards, and the Allowable Solutions carbon offsetting scheme as the government has indicated that it no longer intends to pursue them.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the city’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “We need to follow the planning inspector’s advice and amend the City Plan to reflect national changes in planning policy before we take it on to the next stage.

“Nevertheless we will still seek the highest standards of sustainability in new developments and support developers that want to go beyond the building regulation standards.”

She added the authority would still pursue a new optional standard for increased water efficiency as the city lay in a water stress area.

Residents can contribute to the consultation online at consult.brighton-hove.gov.uk/portal until 5pm on Monday November 9 or access paper copies at the customer service centres or Jubilee, Hove and Portslade libraries.

If agreed, the City Plan will proceed to final draft for possible adoption in early 2016.