The government’s £300m car scrappage scheme has boosted the country’s car industry as consumers have traded in their old bangers for greener new models

But incentives to get consumers to spend on home improvements would also have environmental benefits, greening the UK’s 25 million homes with insulation, double glazing and other energy-saving measures.

While evidence is increasing that the blanket 2.5% VAT cut has failed, ‘cash for bangers’ proves that properly targeted consumer incentive schemes work. The government must now recognise that construction is also vital to future economic success: it’s time it invested in our industry’s future with a ‘cash for lagging’ scheme.

Michael Levack, Scottish Building Federation

Source

Construction Manager