News

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announces £75 million allocation of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund

On Monday (18 March), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced over 8,800 social homes will be upgraded at no cost to residents, using a £75 million allocation of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. The Department claims these upgrades will save the average household £400 per year in energy bills and support 1,300 jobs. Funding will be made available to 42 councils and housing associations across England to install energy saving measures.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities intervenes in London Plan housing policies

On Monday (18 March), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced it has directed the Mayor of London to conduct a review of London Plan policies. Alongside this announcement, the Department published a letter from the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to Sadiq Khan. The review will focus on the use of industrial land and the 47 other opportunity areas identified for their potential to deliver new housing and jobs.

 

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announces Government backing for AI businesses for net zero innovation

On Tuesday (19 March), the Department for Energy and Security and Net Zero announced £1.73 million of funding for AI-driven green tech. The funding has been awarded to eight different projects, including on solar energy production, energy efficiency in business, and cutting energy costs.

Culture change in the built environment industry: October 2021 to July 2023

The Industry Safety Steering Group’s fourth report on the progress in encouraging culture change among groups within the built environment sector. Culture change in the built environment industry: Culture change in the built environment industry: October 2021 to July 2023 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Constructing Excellence co-hosts senior infrastructure leaders breakfast meeting

Constructing Excellence co-hosted a senior infrastructure leaders breakfast meeting on energy transition with UCL and Advance Consultancy. Baroness Brown of Cambridge, chair of the Lords Committee on Science & Technology provided insights into the scale and pace required to meet the Net Zero challenges, what it will mean for the energy mix and the built environment as well as a hard-hitting message on the impact of the climate change that is already happening.

 

BRE launches its manifesto for 2024

On Thursday (21 March), BRE launched its manifesto for 2024, calling for cross-departmental measures for a new government to create a better built environment, ahead of a forthcoming general election. BRE is calling on the next government to commit to world-leading standards for British buildings, with key asks including:

• Establish smaller campuses as designated ‘micro’ investment zones to support dedicated specialist research and development, with the same advantages as larger ones
• Embrace AI technology like the digital twinning of UK infrastructure and the built environment to enable improved planning and retrofit
• Foster government-industry collaboration, working with low carbon entrepreneurs at early stages of development to ensure innovative products can meet sustainability standards

IN THE NEWS

Is retrofit data the key to unlocking a $2 trillion market – PBC Today

PBC Today reports the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with PwC, has published a report which claims international businesses could save a collective $2 trillion a year by focusing on energy efficiency. It points out that buildings were responsible for 30% of the world’s energy usage in 2022, with WEF researchers calculating that energy intensity in buildings could be reduced by 38% using existing solutions. The report also highlighted that retrofitting buildings increased their value by up to 15%.

[10:56 AM] Alison Nicholl

Cost overruns and delays risk nuclear’s place in energy transition, FT 22 March

Cost overruns and delays risk nuclear’s place in energy transition (ft.com)

 

Housing developments axed as Tory planning reforms take effect, FT 22 March

England’s councils reverse course on agreed plans after targets diluted despite acute shortage of homes.

Housing developments axed as Tory planning reforms take effect (ft.com)