• Half a billion pounds awarded to upgrade public buildings in England with affordable, low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures
• Measures will save an estimated average of £650 million of public organisations and taxpayers money per year on energy bills over the next 15 years
• Investment part of £2.5 billion total government spending on upgrading public sector buildings between 2020 and 2025

Hospitals, schools, libraries, museums and leisure centres across England are among hundreds of public buildings that will cut their use of expensive fossil fuels and save millions of pounds on bills, thanks to £553 million in government funding for affordable, low carbon heating and energy efficiency upgrades.

These upgraded heating systems, powered by cleaner, cheaper, renewable energy, will reduce the use of fossil fuels exposed to volatile global energy prices, support thousands of jobs, and also save taxpayers money as these measures will ensure public buildings are cheaper to heat. Local authorities, public bodies and taxpayers are expected to save an average of £650 million per year on energy bills over the next 15 years.

Funding through the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will see clean, efficient heat pumps installed and energy efficiency upgrades (such as insulation) fitted in 160 public sector organisations such as Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Manchester Fire and Rescue and historic venues at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Upgrades are already underway with grants awarded to 381 public sector organisations across England under first two phases of the Government’s scheme, with Phase 1 alone supporting up to 30,000 clean jobs in the clean heating and energy efficiency sectors.

Business and Energy Minister Lord Callanan said:

Using cleaner technology to heat our civic buildings is helping to shield public sector organisations from costly fossil fuels, especially at a time of high global prices.

This funding will bring significant savings for taxpayers of well over half a billion pounds each year by making public buildings cheaper to run, heat and cool, whilst supporting economic growth and jobs across the country.

The first round of funding allocated through Phase 3 of the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will provide grants to 160 public sector organisations across the country to install 217 clean heat and energy efficiency projects.

The funding is part of the £6.6 billion the Government is investing this parliament to cut fossil fuel use and emissions from buildings, whilst creating high wage, high skill jobs. In addition to the funding allocated to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, over £2 billion is aimed specifically at lower-income households and saving people money on their energy bills.

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme supports the aim of reducing emissions from public sector buildings by 75%, compared to 2017 levels, by 2037. Today’s funding is the first part of an overall £1.425 billion due to be allocated through Phase 3 over three years until 2025.

There will be multiple opportunities for the public sector to secure funding through Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Guidance on how to apply for the next round of applications, Phase 3b, will be published in July, with the application window planned to open for applications in September.

Among the projects to be supported through Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme are:

• Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is receiving more than £70 million to decarbonise Queens Medical Centre.
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority is receiving £15.5 million to install low carbon heating in various notable institutions, including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the University of Salford, the National Football Museum and Manchester University.
• Hartismere Family of Schools will receive more than £600,000 to install a heat pump and improve the energy efficiency of Somerleyton Primary School in Suffolk, a school which was built in 1845 and still has a thatched roof.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will invest over £4.4 million to decarbonise the Grade II listed Nash Conservatory and Jodrell Laboratory.
• Exmoor National Park Authority is receiving £115,000 to install clean heating at Pinkery Outdoor Education Centre, which is off-grid and has no mains gas, electricity or water.
• Leeds City Council is receiving £4.3 million to decarbonise 6 primary schools and 4 child day care centres.
• Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is receiving more than £50 million to install clean heating and energy efficiency measures in Birmingham Women’s Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital, while Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust will be awarded £32 million to decarbonise New Cross Hospital.

This funding will allow low carbon heating systems, including heat pumps and electric heating, to be installed in some of England’s most recognisable and loved public buildings, with many projects also fitting energy efficiency measures, such as wall and roof insulation, double glazing and LED lighting, and renewables such as solar panels.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

Here in Greater Manchester we know we need to be taking bold and meaningful steps at every level to become carbon neutral by 2038. By moving towards a greener economy we can foster new skills and create thousands of good jobs, powering our recovery from the pandemic and charting a course to a more sustainable, low-carbon future.

The £100m funding that we’ve been awarded so far is helping our public sector to lead the way in this effort, showing exactly what we can achieve with the right investment and a collaborative approach. We’ve retrofitted more than 130 public buildings and cut more than 8,000 tonnes of harmful emissions, at the same time as supporting and safeguarding almost 2,000 jobs in our local economy.

We hope this is just the start of a renewed effort to work together at national and local level, helping us to go further and faster in cutting emissions and tackling the climate emergency.

Chief Executive of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Sarah-Jane Marsh said:

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s has been committed to reducing our carbon output for many years. But the scale of what was needed and the money involved, has made it near impossible.

Anyone who has been to either of our hospitals will have experienced the extreme temperatures. The 60-year-old Women’s Hospital is like a greenhouse in the summer and a freezer in the winter. The Grade II listed Children’s Hospital, with its 125-year-old single glazed windows, faces many of the same challenges.

Now, thanks to this generous £53 million BEIS grant, which complements our future planning and Big Build ambitions, we can make much needed improvements, not only for our women, children, young people and families, but also the environment we all depend on.

Peter Alesbury, Director of Estates at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said:

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is committed to taking urgent steps to tackle climate change and achieve the goals set out in our Sustainability Strategy, including to become Climate Positive by 2030. This funding will help deliver significant carbon savings and take us a step closer to achieving this target.

The scheme will be delivered on behalf of the government by Salix Finance.

Salix Finance chief executive Annie Shepperd OBE said:

This investment is transforming public buildings, driving down their carbon footprint and improving the experience of their users, including school pupils, patients and visitors to hospitals, and all those people using libraries and leisure centres.

Salix staff are proud to be working as the delivery partner for this scheme and seeing the impact it’s having.

Notes to editors

• Projects supported so far by the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
• The BEIS delivery body Salix Finance manages the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. More information can be found on the Salix Finance website.
• Regional funding breakdown for this round of Phase 3 is:
• West Midlands: £133.9 million
• East Midlands: £103.9 million
• London: £90.8 million
• North West: £51.8 million
• South West: £29.9 million
• South East: £55.6 million
• East of England: £29.8 million
• North East: £5.8 million
• Yorkshire & the Humber: £42.9 million
• Phase 1 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provided £1 billion in grants as part of the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs 2020 commitment to support the UK’s economic recovery from COVID-19. It aimed to support up to 30,000 jobs in the low carbon and energy efficiency sectors and reduce carbon emissions from the public sector.
• Phase 2 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme provided £75 million of grant funding for the financial year 2021/2022. It supported the public sector in taking a ‘whole building’ approach when decarbonising their estates.

• Guidance on how to apply for the next round of applications to the scheme, Phase 3b, will be published in July. Further information about the next round of applications, which is expected to open in September.

• This funding is part of the £6.6 billion the Government is investing this parliament to decarbonise buildings, of which over £2 billion is aimed specifically at lower-income households and saving people money on their energy bills.
• The government is also providing £14m of grant funding in the current financial year through of Phase 3 of the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund. This will provide funding for public sector organisations to access the skills and expertise needed to plan how to decarbonise heating in their buildings, including enabling organisations to develop applications for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

Thousands of new homes and jobs will be created in beautiful, green neighbourhoods across England, supported by £15 million government funding for garden communities, Housing Minister Stuart Andrew MP announced today (Saturday 21 May 2022).

From Cornwall to Carlisle, the Garden Communities programme will deliver up to 16,000 homes per year from 2025, driving growth across England, breathing life into 43 towns and villages and putting green, wildlife friendly spaces at the heart of new development.

New funding will regenerate:

• Long Marston in Warwickshire, formerly a disused airfield that is now a vibrant, green neighbourhood will see 3,500 new homes being built, with a requirement for 35% affordable housing.

• Halsnead Garden Village in Knowsley will deliver 1,619 new homes in Merseyside along with 22.5 hectares of land for new businesses. A country park will accompany wetlands and restored wildflower meadows to improve biodiversity.

• West Carclaze Garden Village will support the delivery of up to 1,500 new homes, in an innovative, sustainable new community that promotes the health and wellbeing of its residents.

Today’s move builds on the landmark reforms in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill introduced to Parliament last week, which set out how the government will spread opportunity and prosperity to every corner of the country. The Bill empowers local leaders to revitalise their town centres, taking control of empty shops and sparking an al fresco dining revolution.

Housing Minister Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP said:

Building beautiful new homes in the places they are most needed lies at the heart of the government’s levelling up mission.

Garden villages and towns are perfect examples of the vibrant, green communities we want to see right across the country and today’s funding will allow us to work hand-in-hand with local leaders and industry to deliver the high-quality new homes that we need.

Today’s investment brings total funding for the Garden Communities programme to more than £69 million, helping level up the country and regenerate communities, with most of the new homes situated in the North, Midlands and South West.

It will also support nearly 200,000 jobs in the schools, shops and offices developed within each garden community, part of the government’s drive to help people secure good jobs where they live, grow the economy and tackle the cost of living.

The programme provides support to progress long-term housing projects from their earliest stages. It enables local authorities to recruit specialist staff, undertake the required planning and receive advice and support from the housing delivery body, Homes England.

The announcement builds on plans in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to put beauty and nature at the heart of new development design, with the introduction of mandatory design codes, which will make sure developers respect styles drawn up and favoured locally – from the layout or materials used, to how it provides green space.

This funding is in addition to the £1.5 billion Levelling Up Home Building Fund, helping SME builders and to deliver over 42,000 new homes in England.

The Garden Communities programme supports house building in 43 towns and villages from Cornwall to Carlisle and will deliver over 300,000 homes, up to 90,000 of which will be affordable.

List of areas allocated funding

Garden Towns

• Hemel, Hertfordshire

• Otterpool Park, Folkestone and Hythe

• Manydown, Basingstoke

• Harlow & Gilston, Essex and Hertfordshire

• Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

• Taunton, Somerset

• St Cuthbert’s, Carlisle

• Greater Exeter, Devon

• Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

• North Northants, Northamptonshire

Garden Villages

• Longcross, Runnymede, Surrey

• Newton Abbot, Teignbridge

• Langarth, Cornwall

• Burtree, Darlington

• Chelmsford, Essex

• Dunton Hills, Brentwood

• Golden Valley, Cheltenham

• South Ashford, Ashford

• Tendring – Colchester borders

• Skerningham, Darlington

• Long Marston, Stratford-on-Avon

• East of Biggleswade, Central Bedfordshire

• North Dorchester, Dorset

• South Seaham, Durham

• Whetstone Pastures, Blaby

• Uttlesford Park, Uttlesford

• West Carclaze, Cornwall

• Culm, Mid Devon

• Halsnead, Knowsley

• West of Elvington, York

• Dunsfold Park, Waverley

• Welbourne, Fareham

• Meecebrook, Stafford

• Dalton Barracks, South Oxfordshire

• Salt Cross, West Oxfordshire

• Infinity, South Derbyshire

• Berinsfield, South Oxfordshire

• Borough Green Gardens, Tonbridge and Malling

• Bailrigg, Lancaster

• Spitalgate Heath, South Kevesten

• Tresham, East Northamptonshire

• Pan-Essex

• Head of the HRT Supply Taskforce and industry identify immediate actions to improve short term supply and ensure ongoing stability
• Further Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) issued to provide flexibility for pharmacists to substitute for appropriate products

Urgent action continues to be taken to improve supply of HRT products, helping those who need it access vital medicine.

Since the government has been working to resolve HRT supply and brought in measures to do so – such as SSPs for certain products as well as appointing Madelaine McTernan as Head of the HRT Supply Taskforce – access to HRT is improving, helping those who need it access vital medicine.

Availability of Premique Low Dose has improved thanks to SSPs issued on 29 April to restrict dispensing for Oestrogel, Ovestin and Premique Low Dose to three months’ supply. Since these measures were implemented, further deliveries of all three products have been made, with Premique Low Dose returning to good availability this week. The manufacturers of Oestrogel and Ovestin, as well as suppliers of alternative HRT products, are taking action to increase UK supply.

Following positive engagement with pharmacists, the government has issued further SSPs to allow pharmacists the flexibility to safely offer women substitute high-demand products – Oestrogel, Ovestin cream, Lenzetto transdermal spray and Sandrena gel sachets – with appropriate alternatives, such as transdermal patches, which are in good supply.

Giving women the option to substitute products is a safe, effective way to ensure HRT continues to be available for everyone who needs it and women can continue to manage their menopausal symptoms. Anyone who has questions or concerns about HRT should speak to their GP or pharmacist. Clinical advice for these SSPs was taken from national experts including clinicians from the British Menopause Society and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

SSPs restricting prescriptions to a maximum of three months’ supply will also be issued for substitute products, as a precautionary measure to ensure the supply of those substitutes is maintained.

The move follows engagement between the Head of HRT Supply Taskforce, Madelaine McTernan, and the sector on measures to ensure the efficient use of current stock as well as increasing supply, both in the near term as well as providing stability for the future.

Meetings have also resulted in some suppliers taking swift action to secure additional stock of HRT products which are experiencing shortages resulting in good supply of Premique Low Dose which previously experienced shortages.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:

We are working to ensure HRT is available for everyone who needs it and I am pleased to see suppliers continuing to increase the supply of some products which is a testament to the collaborative approach being taken.

Meetings with suppliers are ongoing and we’re taking decisive action to manage HRT supply issues and reduce any delays – this includes issuing further SSPs so that women are able to access the medication they need.

Head of the HRT Supply Taskforce Madelaine McTernan said:

I am very encouraged by the constructive engagement across the sector and enthusiasm with which suppliers and pharmacists are looking to work with us to meet this challenge.

Focusing both on measures that ensure we can use stocks most efficiently whilst also ensuring supply is increased is critical”.

Minister for Women’s Health, Maria Caulfield said:

Improving stability of supply is another key measure in increasing support for menopausal and per-menopausal women to improve their quality of life.

Women’s health is a priority for this government – we’re working around the clock to ensure supply of HRT is stable now, and in the long-term.

NHSE guidance makes clear prescribers are not limited by formulary lists and are not prevented from prescribing a wider range of products.

The British Menopause Society resource on HRT supply provides information on choosing alternative HRT products. Furthermore, information on which formulations are most appropriate for different populations and comorbidities can be found on the NICE website.

NHS England encourages prescribers to check the availability of HRT products before prescribing, by reviewing the NHS England Specialist Pharmacy Service website liaising with local pharmacies to identify available stocks and agreeing suitable alternatives where necessary.

MHRA has reminded both HRT manufacturers and suppliers of the action they can take to ease supply shortages and has supplemented existing guidance on these by holding workshops on 16 May with representatives of manufacturers, community pharmacies and wholesalers to ensure these provisions are understood. This includes confirming that pharmacies have the flexibility to share medicines, where appropriate. MHRA are also working to consolidate their guidance so that it is available from a single webpage and this will be available shortly.

The vast majority of HRT products remain available, and alternatives are available for any products affected by supply issues.

• On 29 April the Health and Social Care Secretary issued three SSPs to [restrict dispensing for Oestrogel, Ovestin and Premique Low Dose to three months’ supply](Three-month limit for 3 HRT products to ensure continued access – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Further SSPs have been issued to allow community pharmacists, in consultation with patients, to supply specified alternatives to the prescribed HRT products without needing to seek authorisation from the clinician who has prescribed the medicine. Clinical advice for these SSPs was taken from national experts including clinicians from the British Menopause Society and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Further SSPs have been issued to limit dispensing to three months’ supply for the two substitute products, estradiol patches and estriol cream, to ensure that supply is maintained
• This is not an indication that these products are out of stock but will provide greater flexibility for pharmacists and to ensure more people can continue to access the medication they need.
• The products that may be substituted if unavailable are Oestrogel, Ovestin cream, Lenzetto 1.53mg transdermal spray and Sandrena 0.5mg and 1mg gel sachets.
• More detail on the Health Secretary, Madelaine McTernan and Minister Caulfield’s meeting with suppliers and manufacturers
• MHRA guidance allows the transfer of medicines between pharmacies without the need to hold a WDA (wholesaler/dealer license) provided: it takes place on an occasional basis; the quantity of medicines supplied is small; the supply is made on a not for profit basis; and the supply is not for onward wholesale distribution.