Publication of the Future Home Standard Govt Response

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have recently published the Future Homes Standard Summary of Responses and Government Response: and the Future Buildings Standard consultation.

From MHCLG:

These standards set out a pathway towards creating homes and buildings that are fit for the future, and a built environment with lower carbon emissions and homes adapted to the overheating risks caused by a warming climate.

By making our homes and other buildings more energy efficient and embracing smart and low carbon technologies, we can improve the energy efficiency of peoples’ homes and boost economic growth while meeting our targets for carbon reduction.

The Future Homes Standard Consultation Summary of Responses

In October 2019, we launched the first stage of a two-part consultation on Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations. We proposed an ambitious uplift in the energy efficiency of new homes through the introduction of a Future Homes Standard. We expect that homes built to the Future Homes Standard will have carbon dioxide emissions 75-80% lower than those built to current Building Regulations standards, which means they will be fit for the future, with low carbon heating and very high fabric standards.

The interim uplift to energy efficiency requirements will act as a stepping stone towards the full Future Homes Standard, and should result in a meaningful and achievable 31% carbon emissions saving compared to the current standard.

This two-stage approach to implementing the Future Homes Standard is intended to support industry to prepare and position itself to build to the full standard: ensuring that a sufficient supply of low carbon heating and an appropriately-skilled workforce is in place; and that our housing supply commitments can still be met.

The Future Homes Standard Consultation Summary of Responses is available to view on: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-homes-standard-changes-to-part-l-and-part-f-of-the-building-regulations-for-new-dwellings

The Future Buildings Standard Consultation

The Future Buildings Standard consultation builds on the Future Homes Standard by setting out energy and ventilation standards for non-domestic buildings, existing homes and to mitigate against overheating in residential buildings.

The consultation proposes changes to the Building Regulations from 2021 onwards and primarily covers new and existing non-domestic buildings. We also set an ambition for non-domestic buildings called The Future Buildings Standard, to be implemented from 2025.

This new standard is designed to transition non-domestic buildings to low-carbon heat sources for heating and hot water. This in turn means that new buildings constructed to the standard will be fit for the future with the ability to become zero carbon over time as the electricity grid and heat networks decarbonise.

The consultation includes an interim uplift of Part L and Part F requirements for new and existing non-domestic buildings, and for existing homes. It also proposes some changes to requirements for new homes, including to the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard; some standards for building services; and to guidance on the calibration of devices that carry out airtightness testing. Finally, it details a new standard for mitigating overheating in new residential buildings.

You can view the Future Buildings Standard Consultation on: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-buildings-standard and respond to the consultation here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/FutureBuildingsStandard/. The consultation will run from 19^th January until 13^th April 2021.