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The taskforce which will oversee new schemes to improve the energy efficiency of the UK鈥檚 buildings 鈥渕ust learn from past failures鈥�, RIBA president Simon Allford has said.

Jeremy Hunt today announced 拢2bn each year between 2025 and 2028 for energy efficiency measures, a significant increase from the 拢1.3bn annual investment that has been set aside for the current five-year parliament.

The chancellor also unveiled plans for a taskforce which will advise the government on how to spend the money and drive the expansion of programs to help people carry out retrofit works.

Previous attempts to kickstart mass take-up of energy efficiency improvements include the much-criticised Green Homes Grant, a 拢1.5bn scheme which was scrapped last year less than a year after launching due to a shortage of trained installers.

Reacting to Hunt鈥檚 statement today, Allford said: 鈥淭he taskforce announced today to oversee these vital changes must learn from past failures and build a competent, skilled supply chain. 

鈥淎s an institute and profession, we will continue to engage with, and wherever possible support the government, as it drives forward the vital programmes of work to retrofit our building stock. Time is of the essence.鈥�

The establishment of a taskforce has been widely welcomed, with UKGBC head of policy and public affairs Louise Hutchins saying it could offer a chance to get the longer term policy right.

鈥淚f it really does bring together the insight from across industry, from academia, from civil society, we could really start to tackle the strategy that鈥檚 needed to get us from where we are now which is a piecemeal, unambitious approach,鈥� she said.

Hutchins also welcomed the new funding, saying it sent the right signals and Hunt鈥檚 recognition that energy saving is as important as energy generation showed 鈥渨e鈥檙e winning the argument on energy efficiency鈥�.

But she warned the money was still 鈥渘owhere close鈥� to what was needed, and called for a boost in spending with immediate effect and not just from 2025 onwards.

鈥淲e need real incentives for occupiers, stronger minimum standards for the private rented sector and commercial sectors, we need support for local authorities to coordinate delivery. 

鈥淭here鈥檚 just huge parts of the strategy missing and we would want this new taskforce to not only advise on how to spend the 拢6bn but advise on a longer term strategy,鈥� she said.

Allford said RIBA 鈥渧ery much welcomes鈥� the chancellor鈥檚 statement but that the funding needed to be accelerated. 鈥淚mproving the energy efficiency of our buildings will reduce bills, create jobs and improve the health and well-being of those who live in and use them,鈥� he said.

Construction Products Association economics director Noble Francis said that while the funding was welcome news, detail on how it would be spent is 鈥渃rucial given previous flops in government policy鈥�.

Other energy announcements in yesterday鈥檚 statement included a new 鈥渘ational ambition鈥� to cut energy consumption in buildings and industry by 15% by 2030, and a commitment of 拢700m in funding towards the Sizewell C nuclear power station. 

The chancellor said the contract for the initial investment will be signed with relevant parties, including energy provider EDF, within the coming weeks.