The Federation of Master Builders says last week’s Budget “failed to ignite the forthcoming Green Deal programme to retrofit our nation’s homes”.

The trade group has attacked George Osborne and the government for not introducing incentives such as a cut in VAT for energy efficient repairs.

FMB director general Richard Diment said: “The Chancellor missed an opportunity to support the Green Deal and kick start consumer demand to make our homes greener. Without creating demand in the market for energy efficient improvement it is difficult to see how the Green Deal will succeed when it starts in the autumn of 2012.”