Agents give government’s energy strategy the cold shoulder

The government’s long awaited Energy Security Strategy has failed to spark excitement among estate agents.

The government unveiled its plans to create greener and home-grown energy sources.

It said it would accelerate the deployment of wind, nuclear, solar and hydrogen power sources and could make 95% of Great Britain’s electricity low carbon by 2030.

But estate agency trade body Propertymark joined critics who were concerned at the lack of immediate help for households facing soaring energy bills amid record gas prices.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns for Propertymark, says: “The long-term view the Energy Security Strategy takes disappointingly fails to deliver any new funding or commitments that will support the urgent need to make the UK’s homes more energy efficient.“Improving energy efficiency can be a quick fix if we want to reduce our reliance on imported energy, by delivering lower energy consumption and cutting householders’ bills.

“Helping property owners to meet any new energy efficiency targets is essential if the UK is to reach its net zero ambitions, as our housing stock is amongst the least energy efficient in Europe and still responsible around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions.”

Douglas did welcome a commitment to provide a comprehensive energy advice service to homeowners but adds: “We would again call on the UK government to go further and develop a national retrofitting programme linked to realistic and achievable targets and tailored, long-term grants that take into account the age, condition, and size of properties.

“Unless homeowners get this support soon, it is unlikely any real progress will be made in helping them to cut their energy consumption or carbon emissions.”