Current news

Green housing plan launched
2 November 2010

The Green New Deal group has launched its plan to retrofit thousands of homes with energy efficiency measures and renewables.

The Northern Ireland Green New Deal launched its Housing Fund Business Plan in the Long Gallery, Stormont on 2 November.

The plan provides details of a £253 million investment scheme that will see the retrofiting of 100,000 homes over a three-year period. The scheme will

  • create 2,300 jobs
  • benefit 50,000 households currently in fuel poverty
  • will see 26 per cent reduction in average carbon emissions for homes.

Through investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy the business plan details proposals to tackle the recession, energy security and climate change.

The group is asking government to provide £72m over the first three-year period. The remaining investment will be borrowed from the European Investment Bank and commercial or social finance institutions.

The Green New Deal Housing Fund has cross-party support in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Stephen Farry MLA, Conal McDevitt MLA, Mitchell McLoughlin MLA, Danny Kinahan MLA and Simon Hamilton MLA, took part in the launch.

Martyn Williams on the roof of his house

© Balthazar Serreau/Friends of the Earth

Quick links