In 2009 the Mayor set a target of greening between 200,000 – 500,000 homes by March 2012. But only 8,936 homes have been treated so far, with just 74 treated since July 2010.

Labour’s London Assembly environment spokesman, Murad Qureshi, says the Mayor is danger of missing his ambitious target.

Murad Qureshi said:

 "In 2009, the Mayor promised at least 200,000 homes would be greened by the end of his first term. But he’s not even managed 100 in the last year. It’s difficult to see from this to 200,000 in less than a year."

The Mayor’s Climate Change and Mitigation and Energy strategy sets a target of treating 200,000 homes by 2012 under the RE:NEW scheme. The scheme is supposed to deliver make homes more energy and water efficient through measure such as loft and cavity wall insulation.

Murad added: "With rising fuel bills and the widening energy gap, this scheme is a vital lifeline in helping householders reduce their fuel consumption particularly for those on low incomes. The Mayor has to start being more honest with Londoners about what he will actually achieve. If it has taken him two years to achieve just 4 per cent of his target, it’s going to be a big ask to get to 200,000."

In a written answer Boris Johnson said a total of "8,936 homes have been retrofitted to date under the RE:NEW programme". But just 74 were treated since July 2010. 817 of were treated between April and July 2009 and 8,045 between November 2009 and July 2010.

Ends.

Notes

Murad Qureshi is a Londonwide Assembly Member and vice chair of the London Assembly Environment committee.

For further information please contact Nikki Salih on 020 7983 4400