“Show us your plan,” NHIC urges political parties
9th May 2017

The National Home Improvement Council is urging all political parties to show in their manifestos how they would tackle the issues of building or upgrading more energy-efficient homes in the UK.

The call came this week as the organisation launched its own industry-led manifesto outlining five key areas it feels the next Government should focus on alongside negotiating Britain’s departure from the European Union.

Executive Director Anna Scothern said the body wants all political parties to clearly establish in their manifestos how they would work with industry to overcome some of the fundamental challenges currently faced by the country, including not only the need to build more quality energy efficient homes, but also how to improve the quality of our existing housing stock.

She continued: “Great Britain is one of the richest countries in the world, yet 4.5 million families still live in fuel poverty. The National Home Improvement Council believes that no individual or family should have to make ‘heat or eat’ choices each winter.

“27% of the UK’s CO2 emissions come from our existing 26 million homes and while demand for housing continues to rise with new house building failing year-on-year to meet the established government target of 1 million new homes by 2020, refurbishment, repair and maintenance must be an essential part of the new Government’s overall housing strategy.”

The National Home Improvement Council, established in 1974, is a member-based organisation whose primary aim is to encourage the safe and efficient refurbishment of the UK’s existing homes across the private and social housing sectors, to improve living standards and reduce fuel poverty.