THE Green Party candidate for the Brentford West Ward, Stephen Clark, has challenged Hounslow Council on the environmental impact of the new apartment buildings being built in Brentford and across the borough.

According to Mr Clark, the Council's commitment to zero carbon emissions by 2030 has been "thrown into disarray by their failing to take into account the carbon cost of their massive building programme".

He said: "We fully support the council's desire to solve the housing problem, but each home built in concrete and steel produces carbon emissions approximately double what would be emitted by building timber-framed low-rise housing".

The Green Party's planning expert in Hounslow, Tony Firkins, said: "Cement, the main component of concrete emits about 8% of CO2 emissions worldwide, according to Chatham House.

"There's the steel! That's another 5% of global CO2!

"So we have to be very aware of their use in construction of buildings in the borough – as well as the emissions from the buildings in use due to their space heating and hot water".

"Where is any of this in the Council's Climate Action Plan," the Brentford West candidate added.

"Forgotten? At most an afterthought!"

Hounslow Council has been approached for comment.