The Chancellor’s budget has stepped up urgently needed investment tackling the UK’s key decarbonisation heating and transport challenges. Reaffirming the £3.4bn Warm Homes Plan investment is positive but it is essential the Government fleshes out the practical details of its approach with cost-effective, impactful measures such as on heating controls and improving indoor air quality to protect health.
Incentivising EV uptake for company cars through tax relief is positive for decarbonising transport, and alongside the £2bn for UK EV manufacturing, will boost this vital sector. However, the freezing of fuel duty continues to send mixed messages to motorists.
Making big investment pledges sends a valuable political signal but the Government urgently needs to grasp the nettle on trickier details that will drive decarbonisation in people’s lives and bring long term financial and quality of life benefits. The UK’s £14bn turnover Net Zero supply chain is ready to support this but needs a more ambitious policy and regulatory framework to match these financial signals.
The commitment to 1.5 million new homes is encouraging, but immediate clarity is crucially needed on the Future Homes Standards so that developers and housebuilders, especially SME housebuilders, can cost and plan accordingly for future much needed housing developments.
