Dear Mr Darling

It was timely that junior housing minister Iain Wright last week proposed permitting marginally higher rents to be charged for more energy-efficient homes (Inside Housing, 10 April).

For the UK to meet its 2050 target to reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent we need a major retro-fitting programme of our homes, particularly in rural areas where energy efficiency is relatively poor. Affordability should encompass total housing costs including fuel, which is not subsidised - unlike rents.

But introducing environmental improvements is difficult to finance within current stock investment programmes. It is therefore interesting that Mr Wright’s comments came amid growing speculation that next week’s Budget will include measures - championed by the Existing Homes Alliance - to support green retro-fitting programmes. This could help reduce fuel poverty and improve the quality of residents’ lives. As an example of this, Two Rivers’ Community Investment vehicle has invested £500,000 over recent years to tackle pockets of rural poverty in the Forest of Dean through a range of projects that improve the environment.

But it doesn’t all have to be about money. Involvement of local materials and people as part of our programme is keeping ‘carbon miles’ to a minimum. Through partnership arrangements with local companies we are tackling global warming and ensuring local people are employed through our investment.

The economic downturn is consequently enabling us to re-evaluate our approach to investment in existing housing and to extend the impact of social landlords on local economies, communities and the environment. And if that isn’t music to Mr Darling’s ears, I don’t know what is.

Garry King is chief executive of Two Rivers Housing