Building for a greener future
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage
3 min read
Aiming for 1.5 million new homes, the government plans to create affordable, eco-friendly housing that drives growth, lowers energy bills, and protects green spaces. Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, showcases the government’s plan for building a sustainable, net-zero future for all
Everyone knows that a secure, warm, affordable home is the foundation of a good life. But it’s more than that. New homes not only give families much-needed security, but help create jobs, unlock infrastructure and power the growth our country so desperately needs.
As some of the biggest contributors to our carbon emissions, our homes also hold the key to a greener, cleaner, more prosperous future. This is the surest route to reducing energy use, permanently lowering people’s bills, protecting the UK against price shocks and, in an uncertain world, securing our energy independence.
All good reasons why this government is getting Britain building again in a way that is fit for the future.
We are ambitious to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament, including the next generation of new towns, while also achieving net-zero by 2050.
Some might say that you can have one or the other, not both. We disagree.
When delivering more homes, we will focus on nature-friendly planning, starting with the development of poor quality grey belt land − disused wasteland − and prioritising building on brownfield sites.
Indeed, with good planning and smart design, which our planning reforms will promote, we can deliver high quality, low-carbon homes that lower energy bills and avoid the need for costly, disruptive future upgrades − good news for families, businesses and the environment.
“No one should be left behind in the transition to net-zero”
This is what our Future Homes Standard, coming in next year, aims to achieve by paving the way for new homes and buildings that are less reliant on volatile fossil fuels through a mix of low-carbon technologies used for heating, including heat pumps and heat networks.
Alongside this, we want to unleash a UK solar rooftop revolution, so people can generate their own electricity and encourage more industry solutions that result in no or very low energy bills, such as the example given by some energy providers of zero-bills homes.
For existing homes, we are also setting the bar high, with an aim to lift over one million households out of fuel poverty by consulting on proposals for private and social rented homes to achieve Energy Performance Certificate C or equivalent by 2030.
Homes that are warmer and cheaper to heat are fundamental to our drive to improve the overall quality and decency of housing. We have, therefore, launched a new Warm Homes: Local Grant to help homeowners and private tenants on low incomes with energy efficient upgrades and cleaner heating. We have also confirmed that we will be continuing the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund to support social housing providers and tenants.
No one should be left behind in the transition to net-zero. The millions who need the security of a warm, affordable home do not want this to come at the expense of the green spaces they love.
We will do them and future generations proud.
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