Image © Shutterstock
The King’s Speech has been welcomed by many in the built environment. Here’s our round-up of the responses and what it means for decarbonisation.
The formation of Great British Energy was one of the big announcements from the new Labour government that made up the King’s Speech. GB Energy is a publicly owned company that will invest in renewables and is said to be crucial to the transition away from fossil fuels.
Other announcements that are likely to be of interest to those working in the built environment include new housebuilding targets and changes to planning regulation.
Anna Scothern, CEO of the National Home Improvement Council, said the NHIC “enthusiastically welcomes the new government’s commitment to Labour’s ‘get Britain building again’ pledge”, while pointing out the need to enhance the quality and sustainability of homes nationwide.
Wienerberger UK and Ireland’s Rachel Hughes also welcomed the ‘get Britain building’ message. She said: “The government’s commitment to ‘get Britain building’ by reforming planning procedures marks a pivotal moment for the housing and construction industry. We welcome this renewed focus on accelerating housebuilding nationwide. While the King‘s Speech did not provide specific details on how the government intends to “turbocharge” housebuilding through these reforms, its prominent inclusion in the agenda signifies a proactive approach.”
Alastair Chisholm, Policy Director at CIWEM, pointed out the importance of water efficiency in these new houses: “New water infrastructure will be needed to enable the housing and growth Government is targeting. But however quickly that might be constructed, it will not come on stream fast enough to fill the gap between available water supply and demand, given government advisers warn we need to find another 5bn litres per day by 2050.
“Therefore, new housing must be water efficient. Building regulations must build on progress towards a mandatory water efficiency labelling scheme for fixtures and fittings and embed ambitious water efficiency targets, supported by this fittings-led approach. But government will need to go further – it will need to remove legislative blockers to water harvesting and reuse for non-potable uses like flushing toilets.
“New housing must also not put any additional strain on water pollution. Finally, implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, mandating sustainable drainage (SuDS) in new developments will stop 1.5m homes putting untenable strain on sewer networks as government is driving water companies to roll out a major storm overflows improvement programme.
“Progress on water efficiency and SuDS since 2010 has been lamentable with policies introduced by the last Labour Government either frustrated, delayed or cancelled. The result is we are little further on regarding the water impacts of housing than we were at that point. This is the government’s opportunity to put that right – fast. That mustn’t get lost in any rush to bulldoze the blockers to rapid housing growth through planning reform.”
The speech was welcomed by those working in the heat pump sector. Paul Smith, MD, NIBE, said: “Following the King’s Speech, which sets out clear targets for housebuilding, green energy and the devolution of power to local communities, the future as I see it, looks bright for the heat pump sector. A refocussing on net zero and stimulated construction market will lead to much needed affordable, energy efficient housing, providing a boost for the installer base.”
Griff Thomas, MD for GTEC & Heatly, part of the United Living Group, added: “I am pleased to see a renewed commitment to some of the green policies that were abandoned under the previous government in the King‘s Speech. Investment in skills and tech is crucial for every sector and is something that I am involved with in the development of Heatly, an app that will accelerate heat pump deployment and deliver critical support to installers. Moving forward, I would like to see a commitment to up-skilling the workforce to prevent further delays to the heat pump roll out.
“Keir Starmer has said this government will be “builders, not blockers” and Labour’s ambitious commitment to high-quality housebuilding will create opportunities for heating, renewable and retrofit installers. What we need now is consistency – it’s the only approach that will lead to meaningful progress and build confidence in renewable technologies amongst installers and end users.”
NAPIT Managing Director Frank Bertie said: “The government has said it wants to get Britain building again and electrify the energy system which will need more heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle chargers.
“Taken together these are very encouraging measures which will all require a highly skilled and accredited workforce to deliver the necessary changes and make the most of those opportunities.
“NAPIT and its members will be key to ensuring there are sufficient skilled installers in the electrical, heating, plumbing, ventilation, microgeneration and building fabric trades across the UK domestic, commercial and industrial markets.
“I hope that government will work with industry schemes and training providers to ensure the ambitious targets in the new bills can be met.”
Yselkla Farmer, CEO of BEAMA, added: “The establishment of GB Energy is a landmark decision, the first step towards reclaiming the UK’s position as a global Net Zero pioneer.
“The new government is hitting the ground running with bold decisions to accelerate electrification, boost energy security and reduce household energy bills. The electrical products supply chain, represented by BEAMA, is the UK’s hidden Net Zero champion poised to deliver and supercharge UK economic growth. But we cannot scale up overnight. Whilst commitments have been made today, immediate action is required to mobilise public and private sector funding for the UK’s low carbon infrastructure and supply chain.
“We look forward to hearing further details on the Government’s plans for the necessary acceleration in development of electricity networks, smart metering and low carbon electric heat and transportation. The longer we delay, the more expensive it will become, leaving consumers with higher energy bills and greater vulnerability to volatile wholesale energy shocks.
“As a £14 billion industry with massive growth and export potential, BEAMA is looking forward to championing the electrical products supply chain as an active participant in the Government’s Industrial Strategy Council. By working together with our members and government, we can unlock the full potential of this green revolution, driving innovation, creating jobs, and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.
“After today’s King’s Speech, the UK is back in the global race to Net Zero.”
