The Government has announced an expensive Warm Homes Plan, which enables a number of solutions to tackle fuel poverty and begin the transition to energy independence.

Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The Government’s Warm Homes Plan offers a broader set of solutions to tackle fuel poverty, and this is vital because too often past governments have treated insulation as a silver bullet. Yet if it is not done correctly, it creates health problems for homes and occupants.”

The programme has announced three pillars which Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy, Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), discussed this morning:

• Pillar One will offer direct support for low-income families
• Pillar Two creates financial incentives, such as low-cost loans, for renewable technologies such as solar panels and batteries, while sustaining the heat pump grants
• Pillar Three places a legal duty for landlords to ensure renters live in homes which meet minimum energy efficiency standards

The Government expects the plan to create 180,000 future-proofed ‘green’ jobs by 2030. The outcomes and progress of the Warm Homes Plan will be overseen by a new agency called the Warm Homes Agency and further powers will be given to local mayors to roll out schemes in their areas.

Rico Wojtulewicz, Director of Policy and Market Insight, said: “More homes being insulated, and solar panels installed on roofs. Batteries are further supported so families can take advantage of lower cost energy where there is less demand on the grid, without the disadvantage of having to pay for wind turbines to be switched off. And heat pump grants have matured further to accept our recommendation to include the cheaper, quicker to install air-to-air systems. The Government are showing that they understand the decarbonisation challenge.

“This challenge is substantial. We already know that new housing targets will be hindered by a grid which cannot deliver the Future Homes Standard plan to mandate solar panels, EV charging, and electric heating and cooking. With new build being less than 1% of stock, electrifying the remaining 99% is going to require a monumental set of planning reforms and grid investment.

“We have seen some of this already taking place; however, a wasted decade of ignored warnings is going to hinder this Government’s ambition. This is why industry must speak honestly to decision makers, while pushing back at detractors who see missed targets or barriers as evidence of failure and opportunities to criticise them. Decarbonisation needs solutions and conviction in its implementation, not party-political grandstanding.”