Ukudayela inguquko eluhlaza kunganikeza kanjani ukwakhiwa kwe-UK into yokucwilisa amazinyo
Ngaphambi kwesabelomali sasekwindla ngomhla zingama-27 kuMfumfu, uBrendan Sharkey, iNhloko ye Ukwakhiwa and Real Estate at MHA, says that with the pandemic subsiding, the Chancellor should introduce more measures to get the construction industry to focus on sustainability.
“With the pandemic subsiding and the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) approaching, the autumn budget is the perfect opportunity for the UK government to really push the green agenda in the construction sector. Public investment and targeted tax reliefs could send a steady pipeline of work to builders and civil onjiniyela futhi kusheshiswe uguquko lwezwe ukuze net zero emissions by 2050. Rishi Sunak should also consider creating a dedicated body to take charge of promoting sustainability, just as Homes England oversees the government’s house izinhloso zokwakha.
“One opportunity is to invest to upgrade the UK’s transport network in the face of growing numbers of electric vehicles (EVs). There are targets for housing so why not EV charging points? With a clear direction of travel laid down in government targets the upshot would be petrol stations and forecourts redesigned for EV charging. This would generate plenty of work for ukwakhiwa abasebenzi behla benyuka nezwe ngesikhathi bethuthukisa ukudayiswa kwezimoto zikagesi.
“Ukwenyuka kwamanje kwesikhashana kwe-Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) kuya ku-£1m kuphela ngomhla zingama-31 kuZibandlela wezi-2021 lapho umkhawulo we-AIA ubuyela ku-£200k. Ngemva kokuphela kwalokhu, kungaba umqondo omuhle ukugcina umkhawulo ophezulu unomphela ikakhulukazi “wezindleko ezifanelekile eziluhlaza” ngaleyo ndlela kwakhiwe i-'Green AIA'.
“Much has been said about the need to improve high streets and residential areas. Here we need incentives to encourage the re-use of buildings, such as those standing empty on the nation’s high streets and to support a retro-fit agenda (a process to make buildings more energy efficient). One way to create this incentive would be for the Chancellor to impose a VAT rate of 0% for materials and labour used in sustainable projects. Alternatively, he could simplify and extend the scope of the reduced 5% VAT rate that applies to the installation of energy-saving materials. Measures such as this would help insulate 22m English homes and further accelerate the achievement of net zero ukukhishwa kwegesi ngo-2050. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isilinganiso esinjalo singabonisa kahle kuhulumeni.
“Okokugcina, kodwa nakancane, uxhaso olukhulu lweSikhwama Sokuphepha Kwezakhiwo luyadingeka ukuze kuthathelwe indawo zonke izinhlelo zokuvala ezingaphephile (izicelo ezingu-3,000 esezithunyelwe kwa-MHCLG) futhi zivumele izakhamuzi ezakhiweni ezinemisebenzi eminingi ukuba ziphephe ezindlini zazo.”
Okuthunyelwe Ukudayela inguquko eluhlaza kunganikeza kanjani ukwakhiwa kwe-UK into yokucwilisa amazinyo ivele kuqala Izindaba Zomkhakha Wezokwakha.
