Audit office blames UK government for botched £1.5bn green homes scheme

Spending watchdog says home insulation drive was fatally rushed and missed chance to cut heating bills and create jobs

A botched" scheme to insulate England's draughty homes collapsed after six months because officials rushed its design, put in place an undeliverable timetable, and failed to heed industry warnings, Whitehall's spending watchdog has found.

The National Audit Office (NAO) blamed the government for scuppering the opportunity to help households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, reduce carbon emissions, and create tens of thousands of jobs by rushing the flagship scheme.