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. The figures represent the sharpest movement recorded since comparable data began. 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. A spokesperson said the approach balances affordability against the need for long-term investment. Similar schemes elsewhere have produced mixed results, with outcomes varying widely by region.
The change would affect an estimated two million households from the start of the next financial year. 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 figures represent the sharpest movement recorded since comparable data began.
Similar schemes elsewhere have produced mixed results, with outcomes varying widely by region. Critics argue the measures do not go far enough to address the underlying pressures. Industry bodies have broadly welcomed the direction while warning about implementation costs.
The proposals, published on Tuesday, set out a timetable that officials say is deliberately cautious. 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. Several of those briefed on the plans said the detail matters more than the headline commitment.
