Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Builders organisation the Federation of Master Builders is hoping to play a central role in the government’s Green Deal scheme.
The scheme is designed to bring the UK’s 26 million under-insulated existing homes up to standard. However, smaller contractors and builders merchants have raised fears that the work will bypass the sector.
The FMB has been discussing plans for a competent persons scheme with Department of Community and Local Government officials for almost a year.
Director of external affairs Brian Berry said: “We will be setting up a scheme open to any builder, who will then have their work inspected and undergo regular training to be able to sign off on projects themselves.
“We are very positive the government will give it the go ahead. The Green Deal is the motor behind the whole agenda. We hope to finalise our application later in the summer to have the scheme running by April 2012.”
The Green Deal will enable accredited firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes and businesses at no upfront cost, to be recouped through reductions in the energy bills.
As well as covering a wide range of general building work, the FMB’s scheme would allow builders to become accredited to deliver certain Green Deal building works, including the insulation of solid walls and lofts and the replacement of inefficient windows and doors.
