Scheme to help more families across England into affordable homes has been extended by a year
A SCHEME to help get more families across England into affordable homes has been extended by a year, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced.
Following unavoidable delays in the construction industry due to coronavirus, it is estimated that the building of 53,000 new affordable homes have stalled.
The government is now extending the current Affordable Homes Programme until March 2023.
Homes to...
Swindon’s 28,000 street lights to be converted to LED lanterns
SWINDON Borough Council has partnered up with SSE Enterprise Contracting (SSEC) have a begun a scheme due for completion in November 2021, will see 28,000 street lights converted to LED lanterns, with central controls which use energy efficient technology.
Stephen Paye, SSE Enterprise Contracting’s Contract Manager on the project, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Swindon Borough Council again...
£5,000 insulation vouchers part of upcoming green package
A £3 billion green package with grants for homeowners and the public sector to improve energy efficiency will be unveiled by Rishi Sunak as part of his coronavirus economic strategy on Wednesday.
In a statement published on 6 July, the Treasury revealed that Sunak’s Summer Economic Update will ring-fence more than £3bn for environmental initiatives.
The largest single project within the...
New report: ‘Britain should create a Green Infrastructure Bank to tackle pandemic recovery and climate change’
BRITAIN can build a bridge between recovering from the pandemic and avoiding climate change by creating a Green Infrastructure Bank, according to a new Banking on the Future report by E3G.
By creating a mechanism to better align opportunity seeking capital with investment-hungry projects, a Green Infrastructure Bank would tackle a collapse of private investment from the recession and the loss...
New research ‘could help UK households cut bills through sustainable practices’
A REAL-WORLD research project by Kingston University which set up energy ‘living labs' to challenge the energy consumption practices of householders, is set to influence energy use in communities across the UK and contribute to European policy-making on green issues.
The three-year ENERGISE project was formed to achieve greater scientific understanding of the social and cultural influences on energy consumption.
Partner...
‘Every renewable gigawatt installed in Scotland creates 1,500 jobs and £133 million to economy’
NEW figures show the economic boost available if government uses renewable energy to pursue a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Every gigawatt of renewable power installed in Scotland creates 1,500 jobs and adds £133 million of gross-added value to economy, new research by industry body Scottish Renewables has shown.
Scottish Renewables Chief Executive Claire Mack, commented: “Put simply, the renewable...
Sheffield scientists ‘could help government achieve UK’s net-zero carbon target’
UNIVERSITY of Sheffield is leading a £7.25 million project to create new sustainable carbon-based materials for use in technologies that use light, including solar energy capture, photocatalysis, medical sensors and optical communications.
The funding, awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, will help researchers develop ‘Molecular Photonic Breadboards’, organic molecular materials that it is hoped will enable highly...
Gas cooker exposure can lower blood pressure, study finds
THE STUDY, published recently in Circulation Research and led by a team from King’s College London, has investigated how nitrogen dioxide can impact the cardiovascular system.
The study examined the blood chemistry and cardiovascular changes of 12 healthy volunteers.
They sat next to a domestic gas cooker for ninety minutes followed by ninety minutes with normal background nitrogen levels.
On another occasion, the...
Nearly £10m funding boost to help improve water quality in Wales
NEARLY £10m of capital funding will be used in 2020-21 to improve water quality across Wales and also tackle water pollution issues from abandoned metal mines.
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, commented on the announcement: "We are determined to improve our water quality across Wales and tackle the very real problem of pollution in our waterways,...
IPPR: Planning and housing plans that ‘fall woefully short’ of what is needed
A NEW research report by Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) revealed that coronavirus is intensifying housing affordability issues, with one in five now reporting fears about being able to afford rent or their mortgage in the future.
The report calls for major housing reforms including the introduction of an innovative ‘living rent’ based on income levels.
IPPR also calls for £15 billion to...
