Greg Barker outlines plan for sustainable growth through Green Deal

The Green Deal is as much a part of Government’s efforts to revive the UK economy as it is the sustainability agenda, Climate Change Minister Greg Barker will tell the British Property Federation Residential Conference today in the London offices of global consultancy firm Deloitte.

The Green Deal is the government’s plan to upgrade the nation’s draughty homes and businesses.

Greg Barker will say that the flagship policy – which will provide upfront finance to help homeowners and landlords make their homes more energy efficient – will create billions of pounds worth of investment and could support up to 65,000 jobs by 2015. He will outline the important role landlords, both private and social, have to play alongside local authorities and community organisations to drive demand and foster local economic development.

Speaking at the BPF conference Home Truths – Investing in 2012, Greg Barker will say: “The Green Deal will be a fantastic opportunity for the consumer to transform their home, for local authorities to help the most vulnerable and for business and industry to capitalise on a market which could support up to 65,000 jobs by 2015.

“Energy efficiency has been long ignored, but it is vital for tackling climate change, for protecting energy security and for boosting economic growth. The Green Deal will make home improvements affordable by removing the upfront cost, there will be plenty of choice in the market from well-known and trusted high street names alongside independent advice and good quality workmanship.”

Commenting, British Property Federation Policy Director Ian Fletcher said: “Change is coming, and private rented sector landlords must rise to the challenge of retrofitting homes with energy efficient measures. For the policy to really fly we hope the forthcoming Budget will support it with some fiscal incentives, and it would also really help landlords to have greater clarity about the minimum energy standards that will operate in the sector from 2018.

“The private rented sector also has some of the hardest to treat homes and it is therefore important that the energy company obligation provides better support than previous initiatives, for the benefit of tenants in the sector where the Green Deal may not stack up.”

Chris Baldwin, one of the keynote speakers, and Drivers Jonas Deloitte Head of Residential, said: “There's no doubt that the Green Deal represents a massive opportunity to transform the quality of the UKs housing stock and Government should be applauded for bringing forward innovative legislation to make it happen. That said, nobody should kid themselves that there isn't an enormous challenge lying ahead to drive the consumer demand needed to make the Green Deal a success. Having listened to what the industry has to say, we are keen to hear how the Government plans to encourage and incentivise UK households to take up the Green Deal.”