SIGOMA, the campaigning network of urban local authorities, is calling for an immediate investment of £10bn to improve the efficiency of 10% of the most deprived households across England.
Analysis reveals that 12.6 million properties in England have an EPC Rating of D or below, with higher concentrations of these properties located in typically more deprived areas.
Around 56% of all dwellings in England have an EPC rating of D or below. Across Yorkshire and Humber, the figure stands at 63%, with the West Midlands at 61% and the North West at 5%.
Further south, the figures drop considerably. In London the percentage of dwellings with EPC Band ‘D’ or below is 50%, while in the South East, it stands at 54%.
Chair of SIGOMA, Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton, said:
The Government needs to act quickly if we have any hope of reaching the EPC target, which is now just five years away. Our proposal today sets out a clear strategy that can give our members the tools and support to uplift housing in some of the most deprived areas of the UK and put us on a clear path to achieving our net-zero objectives, while also helping to ease the cost-of-living crisis for the most deprived households and communities.
In 2019, the Conservative Manifesto promised £9.2 billion to improve the efficiency rating of all UK homes. However, Savills estimates that the cost of decarbonising all homes in the UK could reach £300bn.
Today, as part of the manifesto scheduled to be launched next week, SIGOMA has laid out a series of policy priorities that the government should adopt in order for all UK households to reach a minimum EPC rating of C by 2028:
- Invest £10bn to help support the most deprived households in improving energy efficient homes;
- Create a dedicated Net Zero goal funding pot to help councils fund net zero projects;
- Provide block funding to Combined Authorities and other devolved bodies to avoid expensive and time-consuming bidding processes;
- Commit the adequate funding to uplift all housing to EPC C by 2035, and 2028 for private rented accommodation, furthering net zero goals and alleviating fuel poverty.
- Increase funding provided through the Air Quality Grant Scheme to assist local authorities in tackling air pollution;
