The leader of Colchester City Council, Cllr David King, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, to request a stamp duty exemption for net zero carbon homes.
In his letter, Cllr King argues that a stamp duty exemption would help to boost the demand for net zero carbon homes, which would in turn help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. He also points out that the environmental benefits of net zero carbon homes would be significant, as they would help to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Cllr King’s letter comes in response to a recent letter from Peter Schwier, the Climate Czar at Essex County Council, who also requested a stamp duty exemption for net zero carbon homes.
In her response to Cllr King’s letter, Victoria Atkins MP, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said that the government would “carefully consider the costs and impacts of any new reliefs, including on the housing market.” She also pointed out that the government has already made available £6 billion of funding from 2025 to 2028 to support energy efficiency, and that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme will continue until 2028.
The government’s response is a reminder that there are already several schemes available to help people make their homes more energy efficient. These can be found on the Government’s website and include grant schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2) scheme, and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). Additionally, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides property owners with grants of up to £6,000 to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler
Cllr King said that he was “unsurprised” by the Minister’s response, adding: “We are committed to supporting the delivery of net zero carbon homes in Colchester and will continue to press for a stamp duty exemption as a significant incentive for developers to build these homes.
“This is a vital measure that would help to accelerate the delivery of net zero carbon homes and make them more affordable for buyers. In the meantime, we urge residents to take advantage of available grants, such as the £6,000 available for boiler upgrades.”
For further information about energy efficiency grants or advice and support, please contact the council at EnergyEfficientHomes@colchester.gov.uk or call 01206 636956.
Page last reviewed: 1 August 2023