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Well that's a blow...Green economy reacts angrily to axing of Green Homes Grant (GHG)

With the news slipping out over the weekend that the UK Government will be stopping its Green Homes Grant with effect from 31st March 2021, where does this leave home owners, landlords and those in the 'Green' economy?

An announcement by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Saturday afternoon said: “Following a review, the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme launched last year will close to new applications on 31 March at 5pm.

The scheme was designed to provide a short-term economic boost while tackling our contribution to climate change. Applications made before the end of March deadline will be honoured and any vouchers already issued may be extended upon request.

In the announcement the government gave no indication as to whether the Green Homes Grant would be replaced by new incentives for landlords and home owners to promote energy efficiency.

It was also revealed that £300m previously allocated for the Green Homes Grant will now go into a programme administered by local authorities, targeted at lower income households.



Although the GHG Scheme was widely criticised, it was a step in right direction for greening the UK's housing stock.

Thousands of homeowners and landlords who had expressed a desire to use the scheme to secure financial help in making properties more energy efficient will now be denied the The GHG scheme - introduced last September - was initially welcomed by many, including landlord bodies, but shoddy implementation made the scheme fall into disrepute.

We shall be looking out for future announcements when (if) an alternative scheme is launched.

In the words of Labour's Shadow Climate Change Minister, Mathew Pennycook "...Ministers might talk a good game on energy efficiency but their staggering ineptitude when it comes to de-carbonising the country's housing stock speaks for itself..."