RIBA responds to PM’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution for 250,000 jobs.

RIBA President, Alan Jones, said:

“It’s positive to see the PM recognise the need to tackle the UK’s housing emissions crisis.

That said, we need a long-term plan – a National Retrofit Strategy – that includes fresh thinking such as a new stamp duty policy to encourage homeowners to invest in sustainability.

When it comes to energy efficiency, our homes are fundamentally below the mark, and this will only be made more obvious by the changes in working habits brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Read our latest report entitled ‘Greener Homes’ calling for a National Retrofit Strategy and sliding scale for stamp duty.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Press contact: Abigail.Chiswell-White@riba.org or +44 (0) 20 7307 3811.
2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
3. The RIBA published a report last week entitled ‘Greener Homes’ calling for:

• the introduction of stamp duty incentive for homes based on energy performance, with the most inefficient homes paying up to £25,000 more. Homeowners would be able to get a rebate for a period after the tax is paid, encouraging energy efficiency improvements when they may be making other changes to their home.
• the Government to bring forward 10 years of planned spending on energy efficiency like home insulation to assist with the recovery over the next few years.
• better targeting of existing income support payments including the Warm Homes Discount and the Winter Fuel Payment, which are presently poorly targeted towards the most fuel poor.
• a clear long-term timeline for increasing the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for both the private and social rented sectors;
• stronger standards for new homes;
• more information and regulation of the quality of building work carried out by tradespeople making energy efficiency improvements.