Liberal Democrats demand mandatory cooling systems for new UK housing
New policy proposal requires air conditioning in all new builds and essential public buildings, citing Imperial College London analysis linking 40% of recent heat fatalities to human-caused global heating.
The Liberal Democrats have tabled a policy proposal requiring all new UK homes and essential public buildings, including schools and health facilities, to be equipped with air conditioning or alternative cooling systems. The party argues that the existing housing stock is dangerously ill-equipped to handle rising temperatures, describing it as woefully unprepared for the extreme heat exacerbated by climate change.
The announcement coincides with a UK Health Protection Agency yellow alert for high temperatures and exceptionally dry conditions across England. Temperatures in London are forecast to reach 32C on Wednesday, while July rainfall has been recorded at just 5% of the average across England, falling to 1% in the south. The Liberal Democrats’ “climate ready” programme seeks to make cooling systems a legal requirement for new builds, supplemented by passive measures such as increased tree planting in residential areas.
Tim Farron, the party’s environment spokesperson, stated that the government must commit developers to build homes that are properly insulated and equipped with air conditioning. He argued that families are currently paying the cost of inaction and that the state must step in to ensure housing is fit for the future. Farron emphasised that the latest heatwaves have demonstrated the UK’s vulnerability, urging a shift away from relying on individual adaptation.
Gideon Amos, the party’s housing spokesperson, highlighted that UK homes are now among the smallest and hottest in Europe, a situation he attributed to previous Conservative governments removing minimum space standards. Amos specifically urged Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to enable the country to adapt quickly to these conditions, noting that adequate housing infrastructure is essential for societal security during devastating heat events.
Recent data underscores the urgency of the proposal. An analysis led by Imperial College London attributes more than 40% of the approximately 2,700 deaths during the May and June heatwaves to the 1.4C of human-caused global heating. The analysis recorded a peak fatality rate of about 440 people a day, with the UK experiencing unprecedented successive days of red warnings for extreme heat.
Industry estimates indicate that the number of UK homes with air conditioning has doubled in the past three years, though this amounts to only about 4 million of the estimated 30 million-plus homes in the country. Polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats found that 28% of people bought a fan or air conditioning unit during recent heatwaves, and 26% reported feeling unwell or faint due to the conditions.
