NHIC welcomes Royal Interest in Victorian refurbishments
The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) welcomes The Prince's Foundation's new initiative to encourage the transformation of Victorian buildings into energy efficient, 21st century accommodation, which was launched by HRH Prince Charles.
Graham Ponting, the NHIC's Director, says: "This initiative by the Price's Foundation will further help to raise the profile for ongoing improvements to the UK's current housing stock. There are many, many thousands of Victorian era dwellings amongst the 25m or so homes in Britain and it's very likely that they will still be around at the end of 21st century.
"Generally, Victorian houses were well built but, obviously, not designed for 21st century living and lifestyle. Like the rest of our housing stock today's priority is sustainability to make our homes competent enough to meet today's demands for high-energy efficiency and low carbon emissions. And, of course, there is t he big emphasis on water conservation."
Many Victorian houses are amongst the 5.5m or so private sector homes in England alone which are in serious need of repair and modernisation, according to the latest English House Condition Survey. And their renovation costs will also be subject to the standard rate of 17.5% VAT.
Ponting emphasises: "All of the UK's housing stock needs to be constantly moving forward in order to keep pace with the stringent requirements placed on it to help contain global warming. Also there is the demand to keep abreast of escalating fuel poverty as gas and electricity prices continue to rise.
"So every new initiative in the house modernisation arena has to be highly commended as it helps to further underline how important it is to maintain our housing stock at peak performance!"
NOTE TO EDITORS: HRH Prince Charles launched The Prince's Foundation initiative, which is described as a "pioneering partnership" with the Building Reseearch Establishment (BRE), the East of England Development Agency and the University of Hertfordshire. One of the partnership's first projects is the refurbishment and change of use of a Victorian stable block on the BRE's Watford campus.
Ponting
ENDS
Date: 20.07.06
Further information: Graham Ponting, Director, NHIC
Tel: 020 7828 8230
Telephone Us Free On 0800 970 4928.
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