Subsidies slashed
Where the axe is falling in
dramatic new cuts and all the
industry reaction P4&5
By subscription only
Radioactive waste
Nuclear regulator accuses
Defence chiefs of breaking
Health & Safety laws P8
Wildlife at risk
Study names species at
greatest danger from UK
climate change P14
GreenWeek
ClickGreen’s review of all the week’s news, views, research and analysis with a focus on low carbon and sustainability
Volume 48: July 24, 2015
Poor industry standards blamed
as DECC shuts down Green Deal
No new applications accepted with immediate effect, as Government calls time
By Stuart Qualtrough
Deal scheme
T hehasGreen
been closed to all
new applications after
the Government ruled out
further funding of the Green
Deal Finance Company.
Concerned about the low take-up
and poor industry standards, Energy
Ministers decided to call time on the
troubled scheme, saying the move
would protect taxpayers.
Energy Secretary Amber Rudd
also announced that the
Government will stop any future
funding releases of the Green
Deal Home Improvement Fund.
The Government says it will now
work with the building industry
and consumer groups on a new
value-for-money approach.
The decision has no impact on
existing Green Deal Finance Plans
or Green Deal Home Improvement
Fund applications and vouchers.
Amber Rudd said: “We are on the
side of hardworking families and
businesses – which is why we cannot
continue to fund the Green Deal.
“It’s now time for the building
industry and consumer groups to
work with us to make new policy
and build a system that works.
“Together we can achieve this
Government’s ambition to make
homes warmer and drive down
bills for a million more homes by
2020 – and do so at the best value
for money for taxpayers.”
The Government has
A review of energy efficiency policy has seen the sudden death of the Green Deal
commissioned an independent
review led by Peter Bonfield to look
at standards, consumer protection
and enforcement of energy
efficiency schemes and ensure
that the system properly supports
and protects consumers.
Government policies including
the Energy Company Obligation
(ECO) scheme will continue to
provide support this year to lowincome and vulnerable households.
DECC says it will work in
partnership with the Department
for Communities and Local
Government to improve the UK’s
existing housing stock. The longerterm future of the ECO scheme will
be part of these discussions around
a new, better-integrated policy.
In a statement, the Green Deal
Finance Company (GDFC) said it will
no longer be able to quote for
further Green Deal Plan applications.
and will cease taking applications
for new plans with immediate effect
We are on the side of
hardworking families
and businesses –
which is why we
cannot continue to
fund the Green Deal
Amber Rudd,
Energy Secretary
from 3.30pm on 23 July.
The company says this is to
ensure that sufficient funds exist to
support those applications that
have been lodged in recent weeks
and are already being processed.
GDFC intends to purchase all eligible
applications that were booked in its
systems. All customer repayments
under existing plans will continue as
normal. The decision was taken in
response to the review by DECC of
energy efficiency policy and the
subsequent decision not to increase
the size of the current commercial
loan between GDFC and DECC.
Mark Bayley, Chief Executive,
Green Deal Finance Company,
said: “We are proud of what has
been achieved in only a relatively
short time: our business has grown
from its inception two years ago
to over £60m in plans and
applications today. We have more
than met our mandate of creating
a national infrastructure for a PayAs-You-Save scheme.”
Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive
of the UK Green Building Council,
said: “With each passing day, this
Government puts an end to another
green policy. Government’s strategy
on dealing with high energy bills
through home energy efficiency is
now dead in the water.
“While the Green Deal was by no
means perfect, the principle was
sound. The irony is that the
scheme was finally becoming
established and the number of
plans was growing.”