Objectives of the consultation
The consultation set out the details of the the New Homes Bonus Scheme and the rationale for the proposed mechanisms. It also set out how the scheme sits within the wider context of the Government's locally-driven growth strategy. The consultation was largely technical and aimed primarily at Local Authorities. The Government believes the scheme will provide a powerful, simple, transparent and permanent means of increasing the incentive to Local Authorities to increase their housing supply.
This follows the Coalition Agreement to provide incentives for Local Authorities to deliver sustainable development, including for new homes and businesses.
Supporting papers
To download the consultation document, please follow the link below.
CIBSE response
CIBSE strongly agrees with the proposal to reward local authorities for bringing empty properties back into use through the New Homes Bonus, especially in areas of high housing demand. There is an opportunity here to link the bonus to the development of the Green Deal, especially where the incentive for bringing empty homes applies to the social housing sector. The 3,000 properties referred to in the paper should be ready candidates to pilot the measures being proposed for the Green Deal, to test the advisory procedures, commissioning of technical measures and for the monitoring of performance post installation. There is a clear opportunity here to bring the two policies together.
Empty properties which are to be rented out should be required to obtain a new EPC after refurbishment. In an ideal world this EPC should:
- be available, without personal data relating to the occupants
- show the previous EPC rating where one existed prior to refurbishment, or provide a link to that rating, thereby showing the level of improvement achieved
- flag the fact that the property had been improved under the new homes bonus scheme
All these attributes are highly relevant to researchers looking at the stock as a whole.
To read the full CIBSE response, please follow the link below.
Results of the consultation and next steps
The Government published the summary of responses to this consultation in February 2011. To download the document, please follow the link below.