Over 100 councils have called on the government to fund a ‘Green and Decent Homes Programme’ to upgrade social homes in England.
In total, 112 councils backed the proposal which would see a single retrofit fund for all social landlords that would replace the current system that involves several separate grants.
The councils have requested a minimum of £12billion over five years, alongside long-term funding certainty for two decades. The aim of the programme would be make improve social homes, making them healthier, safer and more sustainable.
The coalition of councils that they are currently unable to meet growing regulatory demands and improve homes as a result of the lack of funding available.
The councils backing the programme have also called for the funding to be coordinated through regional strategic authorities such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority or West Midlands Combined Authority.
The councils set out a number of arguments in favour of the scheme. They said that poor housing costs the NHS around £1.4billion each year according to the Building Research Establishment, and that investing in warm homes could save the country £4billion each year in healthcare and social care costs.
The group also says that retrofitting the country’s social homes could reduce gas demand by 20% which would significantly lower their environmental impact. The benefit would be passed on to the residents too, reducing energy bills by an average of £779 a year.
The plan for the programme also includes a “progressive, ambitious benchmark”, which would be updated in line with innovation and best practice, as well as transparent reporting, realistic delivery times and an agreement to invest in replacement homes.
The programme will be launched at the House of Lords by Southwark Council today (15/5) with speakers including the leader of the Southwark Council, Keiron Williams, chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Florence Eshalomi, and the found of The Big Issue, Lord Bird.
Keiron Williams said: “Britain’s council homes have been improving lives for generations, but many of them were built in a different age and are at risk of coming to the end of their lives.”
“Together with over 100 councils, we are calling for a national Green and Decent Homes Programme, which is vital to make these homes fit for the 21st century. It is an investment in our country’s future that will deliver not just better, healthier homes, but jobs, growth and a reduction in carbon emissions, too.”
Southwark Council initially outlined plans for the programme in a report published last year which was signed by millions of tenants.
