The Liberal Democrats have created a cloud of controversy following the announcement of their green policy ahead of May’s general election. They aim to make it cheaper for people to refurbish properties by making the VAT rate on repair costs the same as on new build homes; both 5 per cent. However, making the current VAT on new build homes is zero and increasing it to 5 per cent represents a significant rise.

The Lib Dems are the only major political party to be against nuclear energy and have proposed to make every new home in the country completely energy efficient with better building regulations. They propose a 10-year home insulation programme which will offer an energy improvement package of up to £10,000 to households which will be paid for by the savings on energy bills.

The party also outlined an eco-cashback scheme where households will be awarded £400 if a micro-generator, double glazing or a new boiler is installed. The Lib Dems will also offer higher rates than Labour on their feed-in tariffs when micro-generated energy is put back into the national grid. They also plan to actively encourage communities to build their own renewable energy schemes so that local residents can benefit from the energy produced.

In order to protect the natural environment, there would be a new classification in order to protect green areas that are deemed important to local communities and policy also aims to double the amount of woodland in Britain by 2050. Planning laws would also be altered so that gardens are designated green sites; this is aimed to stop developers building new housing estates in the grounds of acquired large detached homes.  Another aim of the policy is to put an end to deforestation by 2020 and provide funding to developing countries to help them reduce it as well. Finally outlined is a new biodiversity strategy and laws to stop EU & UK companies importing, possessing and using timber produced through illegal deforestation in foreign countries.

Author:  Thomas Davies

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