Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed a £3 billion green jobs plan to save money, cut carbon and boost employment in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
In his much-awaited Summer Statement, which serves as a recovery plan for the UK economy, he outlined how he planned to tackle “profound economic challenges” with a “historic investment in infrastructure”.
He promised to create green jobs to ensure a green recovery that holds “concern for our environment at its heart”.
The £3 billion round of financing includes a £2 billion green homes grant – from September, homeowners and landlords will be able to apply for vouchers to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and create sustainable work for local businesses.
These vouchers will be able to cover at least two-thirds of costs, up to £5,000 per house, rising to up to £10,000 to cover the full costs for low-income households.
Around £1 billion will be spent to improve the energy efficiency of public sector buildings such as schools, hospitals and council buildings, in addition to a £50m fund to pilot an effective approach to deliver decarbonised social housing across the country.
Mr. Sunak promised these measures would make a total of 650,000 homes more energy-efficient, saving families £300 a year, as well as cut carbon emissions by half a megaton a year and support around 140,000 green jobs.
He said: “We are double down on our ambition to level up, with better roads, better schools, better hospitals, better high streets, creating jobs in all four corners of our country.”