The UK government has published details of the Future Homes Standard, marking a major shift in how new homes in England will be designed, specified and delivered.
The announcement, made alongside plans to roll out plug-in solar – low-cost panels available from shops that can be placed on balconies or outdoor spaces – confirms that new regulatory requirements are now moving from policy into implementation. They bring direct consequences for contractors, supply chains and project delivery models.
The government said the new rules include “common-sense measures” to ensure the majority of new homes in England are cheaper to run, with solar panels and clean heating as standard.
The Future Homes Standard will introduce a functional requirement to the Building Regulations that new homes, with some exceptions (including high-rise buildings), are built with onsite renewable electricity generation.
According to the government, the new measures could save households up to £830 a year on energy bills, compared with a standard home with an EPC rating of C. These new homes are also expected to create at least 75% less carbon emissions than those built to 2013 standards.
The higher standard for new homes will come into force from 2028.
The announcement is tied to the government’s broader housing targets, underlining that quality and decarbonisation must go hand in hand with housing delivery at scale.
High-quality housing
Commenting on the announcement, housing secretary Steve Reed said: “Building 1.5 million new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in.
“As we make the switch to clean, homegrown energy, today’s standard is what the future of housing can and should look like.”
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) said the new standard will provide “the much-needed clarity our industry has been waiting on for the last two years”.
Amanda Williams, CIOB’s head of environmental sustainability, added: “Ensuring everyone has a safe, warm home must be a priority and having a standard which all new homes must meet is a vital part of making it happen.
“In our survey of 2,000 people in late 2023, over a third rated energy efficiency in the top three things they want in a new build home along with a good price and good location, so we are pleased this has been included in the new standard by way of mandatory solar panels on new homes for example.
“This is a step change, so the key now is ensuring housebuilders are supported to adopt and implement the new standards and homeowners are supported to use and maintain their solar panels and heat pumps to get the most from them.”
Tom Dollard, chair of the Good Homes Alliance, which represents member organisations from across the housing sector, also welcomed the new standard.
“This is a clear improvement for Part L of the building regulations that set targets to ensure all new homes and buildings are built fit for a net-zero future, with low-carbon heating and solar panels,” Dollard said.
“We are confident that these standards, especially if used in combination with enhanced ventilation commissioning and low-cost, post-completion testing, such as short-duration whole-house heat loss tests, will ensure delivery of both high-quality, energy-efficient homes and the housing supply needed to meet demand.”
