Defence Estates remains the country’s biggest empty homes sinner. By it’s own figures it has more than 9,000 empty homes 17% of it’s stock. It has always been an impenetrable organisation to deal with. So I was fascinated it to see an interview with chief executive Vice Admiral Tim Lawrence (a.k.a. Mr Princess Anne) in Public Servant magazine this month (sorry no on-line edition) explaining how he is making the organisation leaner and greener.
Feeling the credit crunch bite Tim?
“My philosophy is to get on and spend the money I have now got and I will cope with the situation in the future if my budget is cut”
So no doubt you’re investing in environmental sustainability?
“If a contractor comes to me and says you can have the standard solution for X but if you want a sustainable solution it will cost 20% more I’ll tend to ask him to go and think again and move on to another contractor”
But you’ll be planning for zero carbon homes in 2016?
“I have difficulty with the concept of zero carbon”
So you’ll off set your carbon instead then?
“I’m not a huge fan of carbon offsetting”
Why the scepticism?
“We have to understand that not everybody accepts the climate science”
So the green agenda is a tough one to argue for in the MOD ?
“I don’t find a lot of opposition to initiatives for more sustainable solutions”
So what about those empty homes? 17% of your stock
“..hugely different to the average local authority housing stock”
But you’re committed to the target to reduce them to 10%?
“I’ve made a rod for my own back …I will be heading towards the target”
Thank you Vice Admiral!
(Questions summarised by me!)
Feeling the credit crunch bite Tim?
“My philosophy is to get on and spend the money I have now got and I will cope with the situation in the future if my budget is cut”
So no doubt you’re investing in environmental sustainability?
“If a contractor comes to me and says you can have the standard solution for X but if you want a sustainable solution it will cost 20% more I’ll tend to ask him to go and think again and move on to another contractor”
But you’ll be planning for zero carbon homes in 2016?
“I have difficulty with the concept of zero carbon”
So you’ll off set your carbon instead then?
“I’m not a huge fan of carbon offsetting”
Why the scepticism?
“We have to understand that not everybody accepts the climate science”
So the green agenda is a tough one to argue for in the MOD ?
“I don’t find a lot of opposition to initiatives for more sustainable solutions”
So what about those empty homes? 17% of your stock
“..hugely different to the average local authority housing stock”
But you’re committed to the target to reduce them to 10%?
“I’ve made a rod for my own back …I will be heading towards the target”
Thank you Vice Admiral!
(Questions summarised by me!)
