One of the UK’s leading energy and compliance services providers to the social housing sector, Sureserve, has submitted a report to the Government, outlining key recommendations aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency policies in the forthcoming Warm Homes Plan
The report, which follows the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, makes recommendations for changes for the Warm Homes Plan, and has been sent to a raft of MPs and policy makers, including secretary of state for housing, Angela Rayner.
The report, drafted in conjunction with Global Counsel, highlights the key challenges that have hindered progress in the social housing sector to date and the opportunities still open to the new government to provide change.
Modernising energy system will aid both households at risk of falling into fuel poverty as well as national net zero targets
Speaking on the delivery of the report, Andrew Tod, head of Net Zero Carbon at Sureserve, said: “As a nation, we are at real risk of falling behind in our efforts to improve housing quality and reduce domestic carbon emissions, largely due to limited funding and a tendency to solve short term problems at the expense of long term ambition.
“This report shines a light on the worrying lack of any clear plan to deliver retrofit, and calls on the Government to recognise the opportunities available now to prevent further unnecessary expense in the future. We need consistency and transparency in policy, regulation and funding, along with a straightforward, appealing proposition for households, local authorities and housing associations that is easy to understand, support, and implement.
“In order for us to help create healthy homes, alleviate fuel poverty among the most vulnerable households, reduce energy consumption and cut carbon emissions, we must collaborate. However, this can only be achieved if all decision-makers are united and working toward the same goals.”
The latest chapter in Sureserve’s energy efficiency journey
Sureserve currently works with a number of leading Housing Associations and Local Authorities including L&Q Group, Southern Housing Group, Aberdeenshire Council, Haringey Council, Kensington and Chelsea and Thurrock Council. It recently announced a full major rebrand amalgamating its existing sub brands under one Sureserve name to simplify its offering and modernise its external facing proposition.
Emma Nicklin, group commercial director said: “We continue in our aim to tackle climate change and be a champion for residents by ensuring that housing improvements save them money and reduce the number of people living in fuel poverty.
“Over the next decade, our ongoing transition towards becoming the market leader in retrofit and renewables solutions will play a key and progressive role in decarbonisation. The learnings and recommendations in this report will provide key policy makers and social housing clients with the support and tools needed to bring about real change in the sector as we move towards net zero.”
The Sureserve ‘Delivering Warm Homes: The plan for a Labour Government” report can be viewed here.
