The Government's new Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change, which calls for the use of on-site renewable energy sources in all new developments, is good news for all those wanting to build a greener Britain, but does little to tackle the urgent need to upgrade existing homes and make them more energy efficient and greener, warns the FMB.
Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs said, "66% of the homes that we are currently living in will still be around in 2050; the date by which the Government says it wants to reduce carbon emissions by 60%. Why is the Government still continuing to focus on new build, while seemingly ignoring the existing building stock? Unless we tackle the buildings that are all around us at the moment to make them more energy efficient there will be little chance of the Government meeting its ambitious carbon targets."
Berry continued, "We are also very concerned with the Government's obsession with on site renewables at the expense of anything else. Surely it doesn't matter where the energy comes from provided it is renewable?"
19 December 2007
Following news this week that nearly a quarter of all Scottish households are now experiencing fuel poverty, an increase of 5% since 2005. MSP's in the Scottish Parliament have tabled a motion supporting the FMB call for a reduction in VAT from 17.5% to 5% for all repair and maintenance work to homes. The motion, tabled by SNP member Alex Neil states,
"That the Parliament notes with concern that nearly a quarter of all Scottish households are now experiencing fuel poverty, an increase of 5% since 2005; considers that the current rate of VAT on building repair work prevents people, particularly those on low incomes, from maintaining their homes; further notes the recommendation from the Federation of Master Builders that VAT on home improvements be reduced from 17.5% to 5%, and calls on the UK Government to implement this recommendation which would enable thousands of families to ensure that their homes are energy-efficient and lift them out of fuel poverty."
Graham Barn, Director of FMB Scotland said, "The truth is that current high rate of VAT on building repair work prevents people, particularly those on low-incomes, from maintaining their homes. In many instances, this results in people living in misery because they cannot afford to have basic repairs or central heating installed. What makes this worse is that these tend to be the most vulnerable people in our society, with the elderly particularly at risk."
Barn continued, "We are delighted that Alex Neil has tabled this motion and that so many MSPs have signed up to in support of it already. With winter setting in those living in fuel poverty need action now. We therefore hope that the UK government will listen to those MSPs supporting this motion and reduce VAT on repair and maintenance work so that vulnerable people will be able to spend this Christmas living in warmth, not worrying about paying their fuel bills."
19 December 2007
Today's commitment by the Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper MP, to invest over £4 billion in the existing housing stock ignores the fact that an estimated £700 million of this amount will go straight back to the Government because of the current VAT rate of 17.5% on repairs and maintenance on home improvements.
Brian Berry, the FMB's Director of External Affairs said, "It's a scandal that the estimated £700m VAT bill will go straight back to the Treasury. £700m is enough money to repair more than 43,000 of the 2.7million homes classed as non decent in the English House Conditions Survey. Instead of using this money to improve the living conditions of thousands of people, it will be funnelled back to the Treasury in a 'Yes Prime Minister' bureaucratic exercise in tax reclamation, needlessly leaving thousands of families in substandard housing."
He continued,"Even a cut in the current, crippling VAT 17.5% rate to 5% would mean investment in improving an extra 31,000 homes, and the Treasury would still get around £200m of it back. The Government is always telling us how important children and families and armed forces personnel are to them, how about starting by giving them somewhere decent to live?"
14 December 2007
With nearly a quarter of all Scottish households now experiencing fuel poverty the Government needs to act promptly and cut VAT on all home improvements from 17.5% to 5%. This cut would enable thousands of families to upgrade their homes to make them more energy efficient.
The growing problem of fuel poverty is highlighted in the latest Scottish House Condition Survey which reveals that fuel poverty, defined as a household spending more than 10% of its income on heating, rose from 18% of households in 2004/2005 to 23% of households in 2005/2006.
Grahame Barn, Director of FMB Scotland said, "While the Communities Minister, Stuart Maxwell, calls for meetings with Holyrood, Westminster and the energy companies we want practical action now. The truth is that current high rate of VAT on building repair work prevents people, particularly those on low-incomes, from maintaining their homes. In many instances, this results in people living in misery because they cannot afford to have basic repairs or central heating installed. What makes this worse is that these tend to be the most vulnerable people in our society, with the elderly particularly at risk."
Barn continued, "It is all very well for Stuart Maxwell to call for more meetings and discussions but the simple fact is that winter is setting in and people living in fuel poverty need action not warm words."
12 December 2007
A new campaign to encourage the building sector to move towards a greener, more energy efficient Britain has been launched by the FMB. The FMB's campaign called, 'Building A Greener Britain', sets out to encourage all those in the building sector - builders, customers, opinion formers and government - to do all they can to reduce carbon emissions and make the existing building stock greener.
Over the course of the next year the FMB will be working with the Oxford University Environmental Change Institute, politicians, officials and industry professionals to present a series of practical policy recommendations aimed at government, which will help encourage householders to make their homes greener.
Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB said, "With buildings contributing 47% of the UK's total carbon emissions, the FMB has a key role to play in helping the Government achieve its target to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. The facts speak for themselves:
- Construction uses around 6 tonnes of materials each year for every man, woman and child in the UK.
- Construction and demolition produce more than 80 million tonnes of waste each year - 10% of which is unused in building materials.
- 50% of the UK's energy consumption results from construction (10%) or during the life of the building (over 40%).
- 47% of UK carbon emissions are from servicing buildings.
Berry continued, "Over the coming months the FMB is determined that the building sector will be ahead of the game by outlining policy recommendations to government and opinion formers to enable builders to play a full and constructive role in building the new greener Britain. The FMB is committed to a safe, sustainable and practical construction industry. Most importantly the FMB is committed to ensuring that government objectives for sustainability are practical."
Full details of the campaign can be found at: www.buildingagreenerbritain.org.uk
6 December 2007
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