|
CALL TO CUT VAT ON ENERGY SAVING FOR SOUTHPORT HOMES
WITH gas and
electricity prices soaring by up to 27%, a Southport Euro-MP is
calling for VAT rates on energy saving products to be slashed.
There has already been an overall rise of 90% in gas bills since
2003, while electricity bills have risen by 66%. Suppliers blame the
increases on the soaring cost of fuel. Chris Davies says the
recent increases must spur the Government to promote energy
efficiency measures for households.
A recent survey by the Energy Savings Trust revealed that Britons
are Europe’s worst energy wasters. It claims that simple
improvements could reduce heating costs by a 3rd, knocking £250 off
average household bills. Experts say that cavity wall
insulation can pay for itself within 5 years while the costs of loft
insulation can be recouped within just 2 years. The cheapest
improvements, insulation jackets for hot water tanks and better
draught proofing, can produce a 100% return on investment within
months.
Chris Davies, who is the Liberal Democrat climate change spokesman
in the European Parliament, says he cannot understand the
government’s failure to make energy saving its number one priority.
He said:- "1/3rd of all Britain's energy use takes place in
our homes. If we really want to fight global warming then we must
make it easy for people to cut their bills.”
The MEP is calling for a reduction in VAT on energy saving products,
and for the creation of a one-stop service that can advise
householders and carry out improvement work. “Energy
saving is a win win policy that saves money at the same as it helps
save the environment,” said the MEP. “Government
ministers should be falling over themselves in their rush to promote
it.”
CHARITIES SECURE VICTORY FOR YOUNG RUNAWAYS
ED Balls,
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Kevin
Brennan, Minister for Children will make a historic announcement
that will give a lifeline to the 86,000 children under 16 across
England who run away each year, including 11,600 from the North West
of England. Responding to 20 years campaigning by The
Children's Society, and backed by a coalition of 30 charities, the
Government will unveil a strategy to ensure adequate measures are in
place to protect and support every runaway under 16.
Research carried out by The Children's Society, revealed that most
of the 86,000 children who run away from home or care every year are
fleeing family conflict, neglect and abuse, with girls aged 14 -15
the group most likely to run. Once these children run away they are
often forced to sleep rough or with strangers and are at greater
risk of sexual exploitation, violence and drug taking.
The Government has recognised The Children's Society's and the
Coalition's call for a national safety net for runaway children
which will look at developing:-
Safe Places:- speedy review of how local authorities can
provide safe places and
Safe Procedures:-
including guidance for local authorities AND a new national
indicator on young runaways
Safe People:-
including roles and responsibilities in supporting young runaways
The national safety net is the result of a 9-month national
consultation led by The Children's Society, with support from the
Department for Children, Schools and Families. The police, voluntary
sector and local children's services all contributed what they
believe should be in place to support runaways under 16. Findings of
this consultation are published in the report 'Stepping Up'.
Bob Reitemeier, chief executive at The Children's Society said:-
"For over 20 years The Children's Society has campaigned for a
national safety net for young runaways. Many of these young people
who end up on the streets, some as young as 7, are exposed to abuse
and exploitation. The announcement of a cross-departmental group to
take responsibility for this group of children is fantastic news,
and made possible by successful collaboration between the
Government, police, local authorities and many other children's
charities. We can now finally say that these children are a priority
in our society. We look forward to helping design a national network
of safe accommodation and preventative measures that will ensure the
childhoods of young runaways are protected and not forgotten."
Support from Westminster has been led by Helen Southworth, MP for
Warrington South and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for
Runaway and Missing Children. Since 2006 a coalition of
charities, including The Children's Society, Missing People, The
Railway Children, NSPCC and local charities including Rerun in
Dorset and Talk Don't Walk in Cheshire, have united to campaign for
support for young runaways. The coalition will present Ed Balls with
a running shoe signed by over 100 MPs in support of today's
announcement.
Andy McCullough, Chair of the English Coalition for Young Runaways,
said:- "The Coalition welcomes the Government's commitment to
supporting young runaways. The Coalition has championed the plight
of these children and called for a coordinated network of support to
help protect them and rebuild their lives. We feel strongly that
this is a giant step in the right direction and look forward to a
time when all runaways under 16 will have some where safe to go." |
Energy Performance Certificates an Opportunity or Threat?
By Gareth Wilson, DTZ Valuation Associate Director
THE
requirement for buildings to display Energy Performance Certificates
(EPCs) is the latest drive by the Government to encourage users of
commercial property to “go green”.
In the UK, the
legislation has already come into effect for domestic property,
being a major plank of the Home Information Pack, launched last
year. For commercial property, the requirement for Energy
Performance Certificates will come into effect on 6 April 2008 for
buildings of more than 10,000 sq m, and by 1 October 2008 will cover
the construction, sale or rent of all commercial buildings.
So what will the legislation mean for the occupier and the
property owner?
With a building’s energy footprint becoming measurable for the 1st
time, occupier demand will become increasingly focussed towards
energy efficient buildings as they seek to lower their occupational
running costs and to conform to their own corporate and social
responsibility agendas.
This move will be led by the larger, more sophisticated Corporates
in the first instance, who are increasingly setting out their green
agenda intentions to shareholders and customers. Developers of new
property will seek to meet the aspirations of these occupiers to
encourage occupation of their buildings.
The increasing use of greener technologies and designs, which can
currently be expensive, is likely to make those technologies more
cost effective as their use becomes more widespread and new and more
cost effective innovations, along with a greater range of suppliers
enter the green building market place. Therefore the cost of greener
development, which in the short term is likely to be higher than for
standard buildings, should become neutral compared to existing
building techniques over the longer term.
Developers are already beginning to address green issues, seeing the
potential as a unique selling point from both an investment and
tenant's point of view.
For example, Modus Urban Regeneration has
completed Britain’s first carbon neutral shopping centre at Grand
Arcade, Wigan, which includes eco-friendly features such as
photovoltaic tiles, a "green" roof with natural habitat
vegetation and natural ventilation rather than air conditioning to
the main mall.
What about the cost savings the occupier will make in running the
new, greener building?
There is an argument that this saving should pass to the
landlord/investor in the form of increased rent. The occupier can
afford to pay more, and is in competition to secure occupation in
what will be a scarce supply of green buildings. It will be
interesting to see whether this will indeed play out.
So occupier demand will increase for greener buildings in the right
locations. We are also seeing investment demand specifically for
greener buildings, with new investment funds set up specifically to
target this type of asset, where investors perceive that there is
greater potential for rental growth, and greater potential for
occupier demand.
So what will become of older, existing stock?
The existing stock of commercial property is likely to score less
well in terms of their energy performance. However, in my view, this
will not necessarily spell the death knell of this type of property.
Location is still key, and much depends on the type of asset. The
EPC is only one aspect of an occupational decision, whatever that
occupier’s green credentials. For retail property, it is unlikely
that a building will be dismissed by an occupier on the grounds of
energy performance if it offers the right size floorplate in the
right location.
The impact of EPCs is likely to be felt first in the office sector,
where location is marginally less important, and buildings become
obsolete more quickly. This leads to a more ready recycling and
redevelopment of office buildings. This is particularly true of
headquarters buildings where the occupier is making a statement
about its business.
We are likely to see a two tier market emerging over time where less
energy efficient buildings will stay vacant for longer or greater
incentives will need to be offered to secure occupiers and rental
growth will be poorer for this type of property. This will in turn
have a negative impact on value.
However, I predict that as older property begins to suffer from the
impact of EPCs, there will be the potential to buy and upgrade
buildings to improve their energy performance ratings, offering
opportunities for the savvy investor or developer to make a tidy
profit.
What is your view on
Energy Performance Certificates? Let us know by
emailing the Southport Reporter newsroom at
news24@southportreporter.com or via
Skype. |
