PLEASE READ THIS NEWS ARTICLE WHICH APPEARED IN THE TIMES ON 19^TH FEBRUARY 2021

Boris Johnson’s flagship £1.5 billion green homes grant scheme is likely to be scrapped less than a year after it was launched in a blow for the government’s net-zero strategy.

The Times has been told that the scheme will come to an end in March after only 22,165 grants worth £94.1 million were issued. The initial target was to secure grants for 600,000 homes.

It was launched in September and the prime minister committed to extending it until March 2022 as part of his ten-point plan for tackling climate change.

Under the scheme the government covers two thirds of the cost of energy-efficiency improvements for people’s homes up to a maximum of £5,000. These include insulating homes to reduce energy use or installing a low-carbon heating system.

However, the slow pace of the rollout has led to significant concern among ministers and the scheme is now expected to be scrapped, with a cut-off date. An announcement could be made as soon as next week.

It represents a setback for the prime minister’s commitment on cutting emissions to net zero by 2050. Ministers had already reduced the level of funding for next year to £320 million, citing concerns over the lack of take-up. That additional funding is now expected to be scrapped entirely.

Also, many applicants have complained about the complexity of the voucher application system and delays. The pandemic and a succession of lockdowns have compounded the problem. The work cannot be started until the voucher is issued. Applicants who jump the gun and begin work before receiving the voucher will lose the grant.

Not only have applicants struggled to obtain vouchers but installers are pulling out of the scheme because they have not been paid.

IMPORTANT: Applications for Green Homes Grants are available in the form of vouchers which you can apply for at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-green-homes-grant-scheme. We CANNOT apply for these vouchers on your behalf.

If the Green Homes Grant Scheme is not the solution for you, the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive may be.

The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive is a Government initiative which provides funding to promote the installation of renewable energy heating systems.  These include biomass boilers, air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and solar thermal water heating systems.

The Government has indicated that the poorest households will receive up to £10,000 and may not have to contribute to the cost of installation. Though not confirmed, it is expected that the Green Homes Grant scheme will use the same benefits criteria as the ECO Scheme and those are:

• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-Based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance
• Carer’s Allowance
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Child Benefit (subject to maximum household income thresholds)
• War Pensions Mobility Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment