Developers are dropping out of the government’s carbon challenge due to concerns over whether it is possible to meet English Partnerships’ demanding briefs for the sites while producing a commercially viable scheme. Barratt, which won the bid to develop the first carbon challenge community of 200 code level six homes, Hanham Hall in Bristol, recently decided to take itself out of the race for the second Peterborough site, for which it had been shortlisted. The firm commented that an issue of “resourcing” underlined the decision, and that it would focus instead on delivering Hanham Hall “in the shortest possible timeframe.” <br><br>Two other consortia from the six-strong shortlist have now joined the plc in walking away prior to the April deadline for submission of detailed bids: a joint venture between social housing provider Cross Key Homes and contractor Galliford Try, and One Peterborough, a joint venture between Crest Nicholson and Bioregional Quintain. Crest issued a statement on the decision: “After careful consideration of the Peterborough carbon challenge brief, One Peterborough felt unable to deliver in accordance with the objectives of the scheme whilst maintaining an acceptable commercial position and have withdrawn from the competition.” <br><br>The seven hectare Peterborough site, which is …