Green Deal boost for small businesses

DECC — March 22nd 2012

In a keynote speech on 20th March at the annual ecobuild conference in London, Climate Change minister Greg Barker announced the coalition is to cut more red tape to allow small businesses in to the Green Deal market.

The Green Deal is the governments plan to improve the nations draughty homes at no up front cost to the consumer. It will be launched later this year.

Greg Barker said:

"I want to see a thriving Green Deal market which means we must make it as easy, as cheap and as straight forward as possible for businesses of any size to get involved. So i have cut the red tape to help promote a competitive market and reduce costs which will not help small businesses in particular but will also make the Green Deal a better deal for consumers."

In his speech Greg Barker also announced;

"Removal of the requirement to hold a surety bond in case of insolvency, Feedback from the consultation indicated having such a bond would be very costly, especially for smaller Green Deal providers and would act as a disincentive to join the market. Instead requirements will now be included within the Green Deal Framework Regulations and Green Deal Arrangements Agreement to ensure that a Green Deal providers ongoing obligations are fulfilled by the person who is entitled to the payments under a Green Deal Plan.