The adoption by the Construction Leadership Council, which represents all parts of the construction sector, of a long term plan for greening our existing homes is a significant step forward in tackling climate change, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the announcement.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The FMB has called for many years for a National Retrofit Strategy that sets out a comprehensive plan for upgrading our homes. To see the leaders of the construction industry adopt the plan, ‘Greening Our Existing Homes’, is a significant step to help create a low carbon built environment. Given that homes contribute 20% of the UK’s carbon emissions it’s very important that we make them more energy efficient if the UK is to achieve its zero carbon target by 2050.
“With the UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Glasgow next year, and an ambitious net zero carbon emission target on the horizon, the time is ripe to take forward a long term plan for green homes. The Government must now work with the construction industry, and all supporters of the retrofit strategy, to implement the report’s recommendations and deliver confidence to business that the retrofit market is here to stay.”
Similarly, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced new measures, to which the FMB has responded claiming that the Government measures to support the regeneration of our high streets and self and custom-builders are welcome boosts to tackling the housing crisis and construction activity.
Brian commented: “Facilitating a more diverse housing market is key to fixing the housing crisis. Our high streets have suffered through the pandemic, but converting vacant buildings or underused commercial spaces into homes is an important way of breathing new life into our town centres. The FMB has long advocated for local authorities to facilitate and coordinate the conversion of empty spaces above shops into flats by quality builders. This should form part of the new proposals.”
“Building on brownfield land helps protect green spaces while unlocking the new homes that we desperately need. Small to medium-sized house builders (SMEs) train 71% of apprentices and build high quality homes, so making the funding accessible to them is crucial to building back better. The Government will not be able to meet its target of building 300,000 new homes a year without reversing the decline in SME house builders, and bringing forward a more diverse housing market.”
