GGF Views are Listened To

The House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee has just published its report on Existing Housing and Climate Change. The GGF had submitted formal evidence to the Committee and had a lobby lunch with the Chair of the Committee, Dr Phyllis Starkey, during the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth last year. The Federation had been able to convey the findings of its Environmental Project and to highlight the benefits of Energy Efficient Windows.

The Federation warmly welcomes the main thrust of the report where there is clear consensus within the Committee that the Government needs to engage as fully with reducing carbon emissions from the existing housing stock as it has with reducing those from new development.

Nigel Rees Chief Executive of the GGF stated, ‘We were pleased to see that our evidence was quoted in the report, however, we regret to see that the Committee overlooked the opportunity to recommend lower rates of VAT on Energy Efficient Windows. That aside we were very pleased to see mention of other types of financial incentive for the homeowner’.

There is a recommendation to develop a scheme to provide stamp duty rebates or reductions for all home-owners who act on certain Energy Performance Certificate recommendations, within a year of moving into the property. This proposal and time period was suggested to Dr Starkey during the Federation's lobby lunch.

The GGF looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Department of Communities and Local Government as these recommendations are considered further and put into practice.

Web: http://www.ggf.co.uk