Support for homeowners to make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat is welcome, but this short-term focus on single measures must be followed by a long-term comprehensive plan to retrofit all of the UK's 28 million leaky and energy inefficient homes, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the announcement of ECO+ by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said “I welcome any move to improve the UK’s leaky and draughty homes and making them cheaper to heat. ECO+ is a step in the right direction, targeting a much wider section of homes-owners, but it must not be considered 'job done' by the Government. I’m also cautious about rollout of the scheme; consultation with industry is non-negotiable, to avoid a repeat of failures of the Green Homes Grant Scheme and we must ensure that installation is of the highest quality. Ultimately, to give homeowners and the industry confidence, we need a broader whole-house approach to retrofit, rather than a piecemeal policy.”
Notes to editors
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.
The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. The FMB is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free Find a Builder service to consumers.
You can read the FMB's response to the UK Government's consultation on the Energy Company Obligation ECO+ 2023-2026
