Comment on reports of the discontinuation of the Green Homes Grant

Commenting on reports that the Green Homes Grant scheme is to be discontinued in March, Jess Ralston, Analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said:

“These reports will be yet another blow to the millions of families that wanted to upgrade their homes through this scheme. The Government backtracking on its high-profile promises will make it difficult to build public confidence in future home upgrade programmes and will ultimately lead to higher energy bills for people already feeling the pinch.

“It is also clear that Government claims that the Green Homes Grant is blighted by low demand are simply not true; more than a hundred thousand applications in the middle of a pandemic is clear evidence of this. Continuing to push this line is not only insulting to the thousands of families struggling with the application process but risks seriously impeding future schemes. The Government should really know better.

There is near universal agreement that the scheme needs simplifying and extending, straightforward measures which can be delivered at the Budget without breaking the bank. If the Government is serious about upgrading our leaky homes, this is the minimum next step.”