London boroughs seek £115m retrofitting cash

London Councils has called on the government to provide £115m funding for councils to retrofit energy inefficient buildings in capital.

The boroughs have identified 375 shovel-ready projects, including the retrofitting of 18 large-scale public buildings, 29 schools, and thousands of homes across the capital.

The local authorities are already funding more than £950m of the costs but need an additional £115m in 2020/21 to make progress on the full list of retrofitting projects.

In its submission to the government’s upcoming spending review, London Councils argue that retrofitting energy inefficient buildings reduces energy bills and associated fuel poverty.

It says London has among the highest fuel poverty rates in England, with 11.4% of households in the capital classed as ‘fuel poor’.

And while local authority budgets currently under severe strain due to the impact of Covid-19 – with London boroughs expecting an £800m shortfall this year – the government’s spending review is a vital opportunity to invest additional resources in local green infrastructure activity.

‘The investment case is a no-brainer. Funding retrofitting projects brings immediate benefits to Londoners such as new jobs and lower fuel bills while also addressing the climate emergency and helping us reduce carbon emissions,’ said Hackney mayor and chair of London Councils’ transport and environment committee, Phillip Glanville.

‘London boroughs are fully committed to the green recovery agenda and are putting significant resources into retrofitting. But in the face of both the economic and the climate crisis, ministers should seize the day and use the upcoming spending review to boost funding for this crucial work.’

Waltham Forest is an example of a borough investing in a range of energy efficiency measures to reduce its carbon emissions.

By spending more than £2.4 million on efficiency improvements over the past decade, the borough has reduced its carbon emissions by 2,721 tonnes of CO2 a year – equivalent to taking over 530 cars off the streets of Waltham Forest each year.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and lead member for environment at Waltham Forest Council, said: ‘It is critical at this time that the government invest additional resources in local green infrastructure activity, enabling councils to make significant financial and energy savings by retrofitting their own buildings and housing stock, and providing support to residents that want to follow suit.

‘Being able to invest in and deliver a range of energy efficiency projects improves the quality of buildings and street lighting, while simultaneously tackling the decarbonisation challenge and providing huge CO2 savings,’ he added.

Photo Credit – New solar panels at West Reservoir Centre, launched by Hackney Light and Power, Hackney Council’s publicly-owned renewable energy services company. Supplied.