[KF] Housing Minister Grant Shapps unveiled the pioneer project that the Government hopes will pave the way for the green transformation of Britain's social homes - making them warmer and more comfortable to live in, and at the same time cheaper to run.
In the largest scheme of this kind to date, improvements such as solid wall insulation and better heating systems will be made to 9,000 social homes in Manchester to make them more energy efficient.
The cost of the work will be paid upfront by the housing association - tenants will then meet this cost through the money they save on energy bills, which could be up to £500 per year. The project could create more than 1,800 jobs and bring a £100 million boost to local businesses carrying out the home improvements.
The project will test key features of the Green Deal - the Government's new way of making energy efficiency available to all, whether they own or rent their property.
Under the Green Deal, which will begin next year, the expected cash savings for homeowners and tenants will be greater than the costs to upgrade the property over the lifetime of the improvements.
Upgrades will initially be made to 2,500 properties within the Greater Manchester Housing Retrofit Programme, and will prepare the way for Greater Manchester's 260,000 social homes to take up the Green Deal.
It is intended that Manchester's pioneering scheme will provide a valuable model for upgrading the 3.8 million households in the social rented sector, which account for nearly 20% of all households in England.
By 2015, up to 100,000 Green Deal workers could be employed nationally in the effort to upgrade Britain's homes. Currently around 27,000 work in the insulation industry.
Legislation to start the process of establishing the Green Deal is currently before Parliament.
Minister Kickstarts Green Homes Pioneer in Manchester
The final results for 2010 show that the house builder made £259.3 million in 2010, after reporting a £640.6 million loss in 2009.
The improvement is largely due to the high cost of exceptional items in 2009, and improving margins, with revenue increasing only 0.3% to £2,603.3 million.
The Group's UK housing arm completed 9,962 homes, down from 10,186 the previous year. Of these 1,824 were affordable homes, up from 1,709 in 2009.
The Group said economic uncertainty and constrained mortgage lending continue to restrict the housing market, and it is taking a cautious approach to its business.
__________
The developer behind the 8,000-home Earls Court regeneration scheme in London has said government plans to force councils to help tenants take ownership of their estates could force Hammersmith & Fulham Council out of the project.
The Communities and Local Government department will in spring consult on these plans, which will bring into force the relevant sections of the 1985 Housing Act.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council, with developer Capital and Counties, wants to redevelop Earls Court and the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates nearby. But tenants' and residents' associations want to take ownership of the 750 homes instead.
Capital and Counties preliminary results for the year to 31 December stated: 'It is possible that Hammersmith & Fulham Council, or Transport for London, may choose not to participate in the future of the masterplan, for example should Section 34a of the Housing Act result in LBHF being unable to secure vacant possession of its land interests.'
