Mike Foster, Chief Executive of EUA said, “I support the Chancellor’s commitment to borrow and invest in building new homes. We would also ask that they are built to the highest levels of energy efficiency, keeping bills manageable and carbon emissions low.

Building homes to a high efficiency standard now, will prevent expensive and disruptive retrofitting of properties in the years to come. An expensive lesson we need to learn from.

It is important that this promise is actually delivered. If the money is available, the Chancellor needs to ensure that builders actually do construct these new homes. There is no excuse for inaction.”