Green Recovery Plan to Give Construction Job Boost

A MAJOR NEW £3bn green investment plan is set to be announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak this week.

There will be a £2bn voucher scheme giving households funding for energy efficiency improvements over the coming 12 months, starting in September.

Under the Green Homes Grant each household can receive up to £5000 to cover at least 60% of energy saving home improvements. Upgrades can include double glazing, insulation, and other approved measures.

As soon as householders get a quote from an approved supplier they can apply for the voucher and work can begin.

Poorer households could qualify for more generous grants worth up to £10,000 per household that would cover the full cost of any work.

The funding is designed to further boost the construction industry through upgrading the energy performance of buildings, reducing greenhouse gas carbon emissions, and creating up to 100,000 green jobs.

Decarbonisation

The Treasury confirmed last night that a green recovery plan would feature in the Chancellor’s economic update to Parliament on Wednesday this week.

The plan will include up to £1bn to support the decarbonisation of public buildings and social housing.

A £50m pilot scheme will trial large-scale retrofit measures for social housing, such as heat pumps, insulation and double glazing. The scheme aims to cut energy bills by £200 a year for poorer households.

A further £40m Green Jobs Challenge Fund will support habitat restoration projects, supporting up to 5,000 new jobs by working with environmental charities and local authorities.