The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) says it welcomes the Government’s Warm Homes Plan but is disappointed that the plan includes no new policies or funding commitments to support the decarbonisation of non-domestic buildings.
Non-domestic buildings account for more than a third of total carbon emissions from the UK built environment, yet the sector continues to lack a comprehensive strategy to drive energy efficiency and decarbonisation at scale. The Climate Change Committee has repeatedly warned of a “large and increasingly concerning policy gap for non-residential buildings”, and has consistently called for a clear, long-term plan to decarbonise the sector.
Many non-domestic buildings are in urgent need of energy efficiency upgrades. Businesses, hospitals, schools, and other public sector organisations across the country are facing persistently high and often unaffordable energy costs, placing pressure on already stretched budgets. Against this backdrop, the absence of any new measures for non-domestic buildings represents a missed opportunity to contribute to the UK’s shared Net Zero targets, support these organisations with their energy bills, and improve the health and wellbeing of building occupants.
Commenting on the Plan, BCIA President Stacey Lucas (pictured) said: “Given the scale of emissions from non-domestic buildings, it is deeply disappointing to see no new policies or funding set out for this sector in today’s Warm Homes Plan. The Climate Change Committee has been clear about the growing policy gap, and businesses and public sector bodies are already struggling with high energy costs. While it is positive to see the Government intends to explore private finance models, without a clear, immediate strategy for non-domestic buildings we risk missing both our climate targets and the opportunity to deliver cost and health benefits.”
The BCIA stresses that further clarity is needed. As the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) comes to an end in 2028, alternative approaches like Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to support the decarbonisation of the public sector estate will be essential to provide longer-term certainty and unlock investment.
The BCIA is calling on the Government to urgently publish its plans for decarbonising the non-domestic sector. It says that a clear and comprehensive strategy would provide much-needed certainty for commerce, education, healthcare and the wider decarbonisation supply chain, enabling investment and delivery at the scale and pace required.