Call for Scottish Government to help homeowners meet environmental targets
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Almost 60 per cent of homeowners in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen still need to upgrade their properties to comply with environmental targets set by the SNP-Green Government, figures have revealed.
MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Alexander Burnett, said the Scottish Government should “stand up for homeowners” and cover some of the cost of improving the environmental standards of properties across the region.
Homes across Scotland account for around 13 per cent of emissions and will need to be made more energy efficient with the majority switching to low or zero carbon heating systems to meet the ambitious SNP-Green target of becoming a net zero nation by 2030.
This means they will need to have a “C” rating on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
New figures obtained by Mr Burnett from a parliamentary question on the issue show as many as 74,000 Aberdeenshire homes still do not meet this requirement, with a further 57,000 in Aberdeen.
A total of 430 homes in the north-east have been upgraded so far this year, with the region seven times slower than the Scotland average.
Mr Burnett said the Scottish Government must do more to help homeowners with the cost of upgrades.
He said: “The SNP have not outlined what funding is going to be in place to support owners and private landlords to achieve environmental targets.
“These costs have the potential to alarmingly spiral into millions for the north-east.
“Thousands of homes still require upgrades and it’s high time the Scottish Government stands up and helps homeowners across the north-east.
“It’s clear the coalition of chaos is ill-prepared to deliver on the need, which we all accept, to decarbonise millions of homes across Scotland over the next decade.
“The SNP-Green Government must be upfront about their plans otherwise it is hardworking people who are going to pay the price if we don’t have a fair transition to net zero.”
