FMB: Eco-town plans are 'top down' policy

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said that the government's much-vaunted eco-towns plan does not address the real problem when it comes to the energy-efficiency of the UK's housing stock.

The central issue is not with new builds but with existing properties, the FMB has said, which currently contribute 27 per cent of carbon emissions.

The plan for ten eco-homes, revised upwards from an original five after interest from local councils, amounts to the government "taking the easy option," the Federation declared.

We feel that the government ought to be putting more incentives to people to encourage householders to upgrade their homes and make them greener and more energy efficient," said FMB director of external affairs Brian Berry.

"We think that the government is taking the easy option…the challenge is what you will do with the existing stock; that's where the real problem is, and that's more complicated.

"What we think the government could be doing is actually reducing VAT on energy efficient repairs to buildings," Mr Berry suggested.

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