Certain kitchen building projects and related planning problems could become easier following a government decision to scrap house building proposals.Housing minister Grant Shapps announced this week that he was axing the proposed building standards for homes built with government funding or on public sector land.Commenting on the move, Brian Berry, director of external affairs at the Federation of Master Builders, said Anything that streamlines the current planning system and building standards is obviously very good news for the building industry.It is good that the government has recognised the burden it has placed on developments.However, he added that the governments introduction of the community infrastructure levy contradicted the new proposals to streamline the planning system.Earlier this week, meanwhile, homeowners were offered a series of tips for protecting kitchen taps and other vital fixtures from the coming cold snap.The advice, set out on KGW.com, included opening cupboard doors in kitchens and bathrooms to allow pipes to get more heat from inside the home.