Failed Green Homes Grant Scheme

Whilst COP26 in Glasgow has provided some welcome move forwards tackling climate change and protecting our environment, what has our government been doing closer to home? Not a lot it appears. Only around 84 families in the North West Hants constituency have been supported to better insulate their homes under the government's flagship Green Homes Grant scheme, new figures have revealed. The scheme was meant to help people upgrade their homes to net-zero standards and cut their energy bills through fitting better insulation or heat pumps. It was scrapped earlier this year after just six months.

Published data shows just 87 energy efficiency measures have been installed in homes under the scheme in Test Valley, of which only 23 were for low-income households. For Basingstoke & Deane the figures were respectively 160 families with 34 low-income. Nationally, the figures reveal the scheme helped just 41,315 homes, achieving less than 7% of its target of 600,000 homes. Worse only 24,437 were low-income. The government has failed families facing soaring energy prices this winter.

The Green Homes Grant was launched to much fanfare in September 2020 with vouchers of up to £10,000 to make homes more energy efficient or replace old boilers. It was scrapped six months later following low take-up and severe mismanagement. Applications made before March 2021 are still being processed, but most have now been finalised. There was also no replacement scheme announced in the Budget.

It is shocking that so few homes have been helped to insulate their homes through the Green Homes Grant scheme. The government need to deliver on their many promises. An emergency programme to insulate people's homes, reduce energy bills and cut the UK's carbon emissions is required if we are to meet our targets. We especially need to help low-income families and end fuel poverty. Families should not be forced to choose between heating and eating.

Luigi Gregori

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson

for North West Hampshire