Thousands of green jobs could be generated across Northern England through targeted investment in the social housing sector. The Northern Housing Consortium contends this initiative will not only enhance employment but also lower emissions and improve living conditions.
Launched at the Labour Party Conference, the report by the Sunderland-based Consortium estimates that decarbonising the region’s homes could create 77,000 jobs. The organisation calls for government commitment to long-term funding to achieve these goals.
Significant Job Creation Potential
The Northern Housing Consortium’s report highlights that 77,000 new jobs could be created through the decarbonisation of Northern England’s housing stock. This initiative aims to lower emissions, reduce household bills, and improve living conditions for residents. The Consortium’s chief executive, Tracy Harrison, argues that investing in energy efficiency will substantially decrease fuel poverty and contribute to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Long-Term Funding Commitment
The report urges the Government to commit to long-term funding, essential for providing contractors and housing providers with the certainty needed to invest in energy efficiency upgrades. Approximately £500 million per year up to 2030, and £1 billion per year up to 2035, is required to deliver the initiative at the necessary scale, according to the Consortium.
Further devolution of funding is recommended, allowing mayoral combined authorities to spearhead energy efficiency efforts. Additionally, the creation of ‘net zero hubs’ is advocated to manage these initiatives in areas without devolution deals.
Challenges and Strategic Planning
The report acknowledges that the delivery of decarbonisation schemes in social housing has faced challenges. Issues with the structure of funding streams and smaller policy details have made it difficult to strategically plan and deliver these schemes effectively.
The Northern Housing Consortium consulted 50 stakeholders involved in decarbonising social housing, including affordable housing providers, local government representatives, mayoral combined authorities, contractors, and procurement specialists.
Addressing these challenges requires cohesive planning and a well-structured approach, which the report argues is vital for the successful implementation of decarbonisation programmes.
Skills and Workforce Development
To support these efforts, the report suggests that mayoral combined authorities should receive financial capacity to develop and scale up initiatives that bring new workers into the retrofit and construction workforce. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing Skills England’s initial strategy for post-16 education from social landlords.
The report emphasises the necessity of equipping the workforce with the skills required to implement energy efficiency upgrades, underlining the importance of education and training programmes in achieving these targets.
Replacement of Non-Viable Homes
Another recommendation is for a new government funding stream to replace homes that are not financially viable to decarbonise. These homes should be replaced with modern, zero-carbon, affordable homes as part of broader regeneration schemes.
In the interim, the Consortium suggests that up to 30% of the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme funding, which aims to deliver 180,000 homes nationally, should be allocated for funding replacement homes. The focus is on creating sustainable and energy-efficient living spaces.
Role of Social Housing Sector
Tracy Harrison highlights that the social housing sector, which owns 1.3 million homes in the North, holds the organisational scale required to significantly boost the supply chain and create new jobs. Investment in this sector is crucial for establishing the infrastructure needed to roll out energy efficiency upgrades to private rented sectors and homeowners.
The report indicates that the social housing sector is uniquely positioned to lead the transition towards greener housing due to its existing organisational capabilities and resources.
Conclusion of the Report
The Northern Housing Consortium’s report concludes by affirming the significant potential of investing in social housing to create jobs and improve living conditions. The report calls for cohesive efforts from the Government, local authorities, and the private sector to realise these benefits.
In summary, targeted investment in the decarbonisation of social homes presents a substantial opportunity for job creation, emissions reduction, and enhanced living conditions in Northern England.
The Northern Housing Consortium’s recommendations, if implemented, could drive significant progress towards a sustainable and economically vibrant future.
