The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the Building Regulations that would require all new homes to include water-saving features.
The 12-week consultation, developed with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, is looking at amending the current Building Regulations 2010 Part G2, which Defra said were “insufficient” to meet the challenges of housing delivery and water conservation.
Defra said the “small changes” to the design standard would make new-build housing more water-efficient, which could reduce consumption by 20 litres per person per day, saving households £111 a year on energy and water bills.
Some of the water-saving measures proposed include fitting aerated taps and showerheads, and dual flush toilets. Other ideas, such as using harvested rainwater to flush home toilets, are also being considered in a call for evidence that is running alongside the consultation.
Through these proposals, the government aims to tackle water shortage bottlenecks and unblock stalled developments in areas of water scarcity to meet its pledge of building 1.5m new homes by 2029. They would also support its commitment to reduce water usage in England by 20% per person per day by 2038.
England has had seven consecutive months of below-average rainfall, with five areas in drought and more expected to follow soon despite the recent rain.
‘Construction has a significant role to play’
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) welcomed the proposed changes to the Building Regulations.
Amanda Williams, head of environmental sustainability at CIOB, said: “Reducing demand for water isn’t the responsibility of just one sector, but the construction industry does have a significant role to play in increasing the water efficiency of new and existing homes and other buildings.
“New development should minimise the additional pressure placed on water supplies and the water environment, especially where they are already under stress. To do this, new development must be highly water-efficient or ideally water neutral in areas with current or future water stress.”
The Good Homes Alliance, a non-profit organisation with members from across the built environment, also supported the consultation. “Our membership is facing real challenges in delivering new homes due to a lack of water capacity in their areas.
“If we are to meet the government housing delivery targets and unlock economic growth, then we must start building more ‘water smart’ homes and neighbourhoods.
“We would like to see a refreshed Part G that is aligned to the water neutrality hierarchy, and a fittings-based approach combined with a water-labelling scheme that would deliver water-efficient homes at scale across the UK.
“We encourage all stakeholders from across industry to respond to this important consultation.”
The consultation, which can be accessed here, is open until 16 December 2025.
