Gary Lawson, managaging director of Sustainable Building Services

Commenting on the government’s latest announcement regarding its Warm Homes Plan, Gary Lawson, managing director at Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd, said: “It’s becoming a regular occurrence to see the government announcing new plans for how it will support the decarbonisation of homes in the UK, which is offering continued reassurance for homeowners, landlords, renters and the retrofit industry.

“The latest announcement reconfirms the government’s commitment following its latest spending review in October, containing details on the scale of planned-progress next year as well as specifics on how improvements will be made – including the relaxation of planning requirements for air source heat pumps and an increased budget for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).

“Easier access to grants and new planning reforms could be a combination of actions that will leave a major legacy in the nation’s net zero journey, which offers great optimism for 2025 and excitement for what’s to come.

“The government has importantly outlined its intentions to strengthen the retrofit industry’s ability to deliver the necessary works, through new investment in British manufacturing and innovation programmes. This government investment will mean that the private sector can move forward with confidence and focus on long term planning, so that maximum impact can be achieved.”