<p>Chancellor Gordon Brown’s final Budget has done little to assist housebuilders preparing to meet the government’s zero carbon homes targets, the industry has claimed. Brown announced a number of carbon reducing incentives for consumers, including stamp duty exemptions for zero carbon homes costing up to £500,000 to 2012. But there were few for developers. HBF director of economic affairs John Stewart said: “The stamp duty exemption won’t have a large impact in the short term because it will take time for the technology to be developed and the industry to get the production volumes. “Although anything that encourages buyers to buy zero carbon homes is welcome,”he added.</p> <p>Chris Coates, Galliford Try’s new south eastern divisional md, said the exemption “focused on the wrong people,”with developers in need of funding to develop zero carbon homes. “It is housebuilders who will play the leading role in making carbon zero homes a reality and it is essential that the government assists with research into zero carbon technology.” David Wilson Homes chief executive Greg Locke commented: “In the short term the stamp duty exemption will have no effect. What we really need is some clear guidance about what zero carbon means.” </p> <p>Other green …