The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee is urging the government to immediately begin consulting local government on the contents of a draft net zero delivery framework setting out the relative roles and responsibilities of local and central government.
In its latest report, the Committee suggested that the UK will struggle reach net zero by 2050 unless local and central governments unite to deliver solutions tailored to meet local circumstances.
As well as working with local governments, the Committee mentioned that to ensure new homes are contributing towards achieving net zero, certainty is needed about the details of the Future Homes Standard, which will ensure homes are built with 75–80% lower carbon emissions from 2025.
Considering this, the Committee also suggested that the technical consultation takes place in 2022 rather than 2023 to enable legislation to be brought forward as soon as possible.
Furthermore, The Committee wrote that the government should set out its longer-term funding plans beyond 2025 and outline the share of funding for retrofitting it anticipates will come from private investment. It should also consider offering tax incentives, which could include lower VAT, stamp duty and council tax, for energy efficient measures and homes.
The report said: “Future funding schemes for retrofitting should give local authorities a major role; allocate funding without competitive bidding; be adapted to different types of housing and income groups; should be long-term in duration to provide certainty for the public and suppliers; and should be clear and easily accessible.”
Thoughts from the FMB…
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) welcomes what the report says what needs to be done to help decarbonise the UK’s homes, with Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, saying: “It’s positive to see themes of the Construction Leadership Council’s National Retrofit Strategy in this report, and while they may not be easy to hear, we hope the government will listen to its conclusions.
“The Committee is right that without clear local delivery plans, a national retrofit strategy to decarbonise the UK’s 29 million leaky and draft prone homes will not be achievable. I’m also pleased to see backing for tax incentives and Stamp Duty measures to nudge people towards greening their homes.”
>>Read more about how net zero goals are impacting the industry here.
