The wrangles at the Copenhagen conference and the recent cold snap throw light on the links between climate change, growing fuel poverty and policies to meet the UK’s housing requirements.

A report by the Human City Institute, with research supported by Matrix and Trident, illustrates how environmental and social justice considerations should go hand-in-hand - after all, the effects of global warming are felt most acutely by disadvantaged communities - at home, as well as abroad.

A comprehensive green new deal should be introduced across the UK. It should be built on investment in new and existing housing to improve energy efficiency and thereby tackle carbon emissions while stimulating the economy. It would create jobs and reduce fuel poverty in the poorest communities.

Just one fifth of the restoration of VAT to 17.5 per cent - 0.5 per cent or £3 billion per year - could be hypothecated for green investment in housing, the green supply chain and development of environmentally friendly technologies - a total of £30 billion over the next 10 years.

The taxpayer would receive multiple benefits in return. Given the lingering fragility of the economy, green housing investment is a sensible way of stimulating sustainable wealth creation, especially in the construction sector, tackling poverty and meeting the UK’s carbon reduction targets while providing a national asset for the long term.

Mike Pritty, chair, Matrix Housing Partnership

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