Officials stressed that no final decision has been taken and that consultation will run into the autumn. Similar schemes elsewhere have produced mixed results, with outcomes varying widely by region. A spokesperson said the approach balances affordability against the need for long-term investment.
Industry bodies have broadly welcomed the direction while warning about implementation costs. The change would affect an estimated two million households from the start of the next financial year. Critics argue the measures do not go far enough to address the underlying pressures. Similar schemes elsewhere have produced mixed results, with outcomes varying widely by region.
Officials stressed that no final decision has been taken and that consultation will run into the autumn. The figures represent the sharpest movement recorded since comparable data began. A spokesperson said the approach balances affordability against the need for long-term investment.
A spokesperson said the approach balances affordability against the need for long-term investment. Several of those briefed on the plans said the detail matters more than the headline commitment. Industry bodies have broadly welcomed the direction while warning about implementation costs. Similar schemes elsewhere have produced mixed results, with outcomes varying widely by region.
