Mark Isherwood MS – Chair of the Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty – has said that the Green Homes Grant, available to homeowners in England, is a measure that should be adopted in in Wales.
Under the scheme, homeowners – including private landlords – can apply for vouchers worth up to £5,000 to cover up to two-thirds of the cost of certain energy efficient measures and low carbon technology installations. In addition, households in which someone receives certain benefits may be eligible for a voucher worth up to £10,000 to cover 100 percent of the cost of the improvements.
Welsh Conservative MS for North Wales, Mr Isherwood said this concept goes much further than the Welsh Government’s means-tested “Nest” and area-based “Arbed” energy efficiency Warm Homes’ schemes.
He added that the scheme not only makes sure that accommodation is more energy efficient – and more economical to keep warm – but also addresses other issues facing Wales.
Mr Isherwood said:
“The UK Government's Green Homes Grant scheme opened for applications in England on September 30, with a target to upgrade more than 600,000 homes, the same day that the Welsh Government published a consultation on its new plan to tackle fuel poverty in Wales.
“There are clear advantages to the Green Homes Grant scheme for a range of stakeholders, and not just to the homeowner and to tenants. Works carried out under the scheme will have a knock-on effect within the local economy, with tradespeople being employed to carry out the work, supporting and generating jobs.
“It should also see a rise in the need for further and vocational training to meet the need for new kinds of jobs in new industries, as part of the UK Government’s plan to deliver clean energy and a carbon-neutral future by 2050.”
Mr Isherwood said that the immediate benefits would be felt first by householders in their pockets, and added:
“Of course, there are many variables, but overall, a home with improved energy efficiency and heating will generate significant savings in domestic energy bills.
“However, what baffles me is that the Welsh Labour-led Government, which so proudly declared a ‘climate emergency’ more than a year ago, has not sought to expand the scheme available in Wales in order to benefit thousands more homeowners across Wales, and help drive a ‘green’ recovery by decarbonising draughty households and making them cheaper to run.
“We all agree that fuel poverty can affect not only household finances, but also lead to physical ill-health and stress, so it is vital that all steps should be taken to tackle it and improve the wellbeing – physical, mental, and financial – of people in Wales.”
For more information and analysis about the scheme, and a consultation on the next phase of energy efficiency measures in the private rented sector, click here.
