Regarding the article “Osborne’s axe fells schools and housing” (22 October, page 9), you’re right that we’re going to need to attract a huge amount of private sector finance into the refurbishment of our existing housing stock over the next decade

But it’s an even bigger amount than you state. It’s not £100m as quoted. Remarkably - deep breath - it’s closer to £100bn. The government has said its Green Deal “will aim to cover 14 million homes by 2020, and using its figure of £6,500 per home, well, you do the maths. Okay, I will - it’s £91bn. Yes, that’s a massive challenge - but also, what a great opportunity for our sector.

John Alker, director of policy and communications, UK Green Building Council

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