Scotland’s Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop is energetically making the case for reducing VAT for renovations, repairs and home improvements to just five per cent as she points out:
· ‘Refurbishment of older buildings and areas, especially those of heritage value, usually acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration’
· ‘It also helps to foster traditional building skills’, and it
· ‘Helps protect Scotland’s rich built heritage, as well as providing a huge stimulus to our building industry.’
Fiona Hyslop is calling on the UK Government to slash the existing 20 per cent VAT rate on works to existing buildings.
Ahead of a Parliamentary Debate that took place on 11 November, on the importance of architecture and place-making to the economy of Scotland, Hyslop said: ‘We need to be smarter about re-using existing buildings. Demolition is inherently expensive, and construction waste is estimated to make up one third of all landfill waste in the UK. Restoration is a sustainable and viable option that uses fewer resources but provides more employment. For every pound spent, you could get twice as much local employment and use around half of the resources.’
‘Refurbishment of older buildings and areas, especially those of heritage value, usually acts as a catalyst for wider regeneration. It also helps to foster traditional building skills.’
‘Reducing VAT to five per cent for building repair, refurbishment and maintenance work is a measure that is widely supported in Scotland and the UK Government needs to listen. Such a move would also encourage owners and communities to invest in homes and neighbourhoods across the country, and provide added stimulus to the hugely important construction industry, one of the strongest sectors in Scotland today.’
The Debate will provide an opportunity to consider why architecture and place-making are such a vital part of Scotland’s identity, and will set out the steps that the Scottish Government is taking to ensure Scotland’s built environment is managed and developed in a responsible and creative way.
Scottish Government News: LINK
