Today’s Warm Homes Plan is a “missed opportunity” according to the UK’s LPG and Renewable Liquid Gas trade body. The trade association’s Chief Executive, George Webb, responded this morning to the publication of the plan.

“Liquid Gas UK welcomes the publication of today’s long-awaited Warm Homes Plan, and it is absolutely right that Government is looking to address the issues of energy efficiency and fuel poverty,” he said.

“However, today’s Plan does little to address the needs of rural homeowners and tenants, many of whom are most impacted by these dual issues. For many of these homes, heat pumps and additional insulation are simply not an option due to the fabric of the building.

“This was the moment Government could have looked to address the specific needs of rural communities. The proposed loan scheme could and should have included hybrid heat-pumps as well as replacement renewable liquid gas-ready boilers for oil users. The Warm Homes Plan is therefore something of a missed opportunity for both Government and rural homeowners.”

Mr Webb went on to say that the forthcoming Future Homes Standard needs to do more to look at the specific needs of off-grid areas and should look to take a technology agnostic approach.

“We welcome today’s commitment that the Future Homes Standard will be published early this year,” he said.

“That presents the opportunity for Government to show it understands rural Britain and to support the UK’s domestic renewable liquid gas industry.

“We would urge the Government to follow the lead of Scotland, where the recent New Build Heat Standard has enabled the installation of any carbon-neutral heating source, including Renewable Liquid Gas. This gives both homeowners and housebuilders flexibility and choice”.