Councils call for an ambitious Green and Decent Homes Programme to help tackle housing crisis and improve health
Publish Date: 22 May 2025
A cross-party coalition of more than 100 local authorities – including Wealden District Council - is calling on the government to support a transformative new Green and Decent Homes Programme.
The programme would upgrade and modernise England’s council housing making homes safer, healthier and more sustainable for millions of people across the country.
Poor housing costs the NHS around £1.4 billion a year. But investing in warm, energy-efficient homes could save up to £4 billion annually in health and social care. For every £1 spent on warming homes for vulnerable people, there’s a £4 return in health benefits. Councils however, don’t currently have the long-term funding needed to make these improvements or meet new housing standards.
The Green and Decent Homes Programme sets out a plan to deliver the warm, safe homes the country needs.
So far, 112 councils across England have backed the programme, supporting Southwark Council’s Securing the Future of Council Housing report. Southwark Council officially launched the programme at the House of Lords earlier this month with three main recommendations: a fair new housing finance system, a national Green and Decent Homes Programme, and more funding to build new council homes where they’re needed most.
The government has already pledged £13.2 billion for housing upgrades by 2030. Councils are now asking for an extra £12 billion over the next five years, plus a long-term plan for the next 20 years. Improving council homes will also help tackle climate change and cut energy bills – Housing produces 20 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions. Retrofitting homes could reduce gas use by 20 per cent, save families an average of £779 a year on bills, and create over 500,000 green jobs.
Councillor Daniel Manvell, Alliance for Wealden (Labour Party) and lead councillor for Housing, Benefits and Revenues, said, “As a rural district, Wealden District Council faces unique challenges in maintaining and upgrading our council homes. The Green and Decent Homes Programme offers a vital opportunity to deliver warm, safe, and energy-efficient homes for our residents. With long-term investment from government we can improve lives, reduce energy bills, and contribute to a greener future for our communities.”