The Future Homes Standard (FHS)’ secondary legislation has been published by the Ministry of Housing, detailing requirements for designs of new homes that housebuilders must adhere to from 2028. The delayed full consultation response has been published in the hope it will enable new homes to deliver 75–80% lower carbon emissions vs 2013 Building Regulations requirements, meaning they will be ‘zero carbon ready’ by 2050.
The consultation response sets out that Option 1 of the consultation, which received 91% of all positive responses in the consultation versus Option 2, and which includes PV, waste water heat recovery, mechanical ventilation and increased air-tightness. The Government admits this will add capital cost to projects compliant with the previous standards, estimated around 10K per unit, but will reduce long term running costs.
The Ministry added:
“We have taken a different approach for solar provision – but in such a way as to achieve broadly the same outcomes as intended by Option 1.”
The Government also announced the publication of revised Parts L and F of the Building Regulations, and the consultation response to the Future Buildings Standard for non-domestic buildings.
It is likely that the design of new homes’ roofs including orientation for solar generation efficiency will become increasingly important, but the short-term challenges for housebuilders facing inflationary cost increases will be most acute among the challenges.
Homes are also required to be designed “fabric first” under the new standard, with higher insulation levels, improved airtightness, and reduced thermal bridging. Windows will be required to provide U-values of 1.2 W/m²K, and more quality assurance on site to demonstrate performance and correct detailing will be required.
There will be a transition period of 24 months before the standard becomes mandatory in 2028, with a dual running of the Standard Assessment Procedure version 10.3 and the Home Energy Model to be launched later this year as compliance mechanisms.
While bodies such as MCS welcomed the publication of the standard for “giving clarity to the market,” industry voices such as the House Builders Federation’s Neil Jefferson told the BBC that the area of solar PVs required was “unexpected,” adding:
“The Government has really pushed the number of solar panels required to the limit; we think 60% of homes can’t actually reach that standard.”
“It is believed that exemptions are however included for homes where their design does not permit the required area. Jefferson added that “each home will have to be looked at individually.”