UK Government Unveils Ambitious 'UBS Approach' to Tackle Housing Crisis and Reduce Emissions
The UK government, led by minister Steve Reed, has unveiled ambitious plans to tackle the housing crisis and reduce carbon emissions. The strategy, known as the 'UBS approach', aims to meet everyone's housing needs without harming the environment.
At the heart of the plan is a commitment to build 1.5 million homes, with a 'no stone unturned' approach. However, the government acknowledges that there is more existing housing space that is surplus to requirements than people with unmet housing needs. Therefore, redistributing this space, such as empty offices and retail properties, will contribute to affordable social housing stock.
The UBS approach also addresses the high and rising emissions from construction and demolition in the UK. One fifth of UK carbon emissions come from residential buildings, and the Climate Change Committee warns that climate change targets cannot be met without significantly reducing these emissions. The government plans to build 12 new towns, but the environmental cost of this is high, with risks such as increased land consumption and urban sprawl leading to loss of green spaces and negative climate impacts. To mitigate this, the plan involves retrofitting existing homes, ensuring high standards for new homes, and creating secure, energy-efficient, and affordable neighborhoods.
The UBS approach, proposed in the 'Good Green Homes For All' report by NEF and the Social Guarantee, aims to provide housing as a universal basic service. By combining housing provision with environmental sustainability, the government hopes to meet everyone's housing needs while protecting the environment. The success of this approach will depend on balancing the need for new homes with the need to reduce emissions and preserve green spaces.
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