Green homes plan slowed down by flaws in support schemes

Councils and environmental groups have said that homes are not becoming green quickly enough due to flaws and gaps in government support.

According to the Independent, progress in decarbonising both council houses and private properties is being hindered due to the way the schemes work and who can access them. Barriers raised to the newspaper include the competitive nature of bidding for funds and a complex application process, as well as suggestions for work upgrading buildings to be zero-rated for VAT.

While various schemes are underway to make homes greener, local leaders and climate groups said support needs to be sped up and expanded to tackle the scale of the problem.

Latest data shows that the Green Homes Grant voucher scheme, which partially or fully funded green improvements to households, has only helped 43,000 homes make a green installation nearly a year since applications closed  - seven per cent of the 600,000 houses it promised to help.

One new scheme expected to get going this year is the Home Upgrade Grant, which will fund low-income households in highly-inefficient homes to carry out renovations. MPs estimated last year this would help up to 100,000 homes.