Government launches consultation on Future Homes and Buildings Standard
The government has launched a consultation into the Future Homes and Buildings Standard which will set vital regulations for homes constructed beyond 2025.
Specifically, it is looking for insight on changes to Part 6, Part L (conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations for dwellings and non-domestic buildings and seeking evidence on previous changes to Part O (overheating).
The majority of the consultation addresses new homes and non-domestic buildings. A small number of sections are also relevant to existing buildings. These are:
• Material Change of Use
• Some elements of Updated Guidance and Minimum Standards
• Real-world performance of homes: changes to Approved Document L, Volume 1: Dwellings and Approved Document F, Volume 1: Dwellings to improve the commissioning of fixed building services in new and existing homes.
• Part O (Call for Evidence)
View the consultation document here.
The proposals contained in the consultation aim to set the performance requirements at a level which ensures new homes and non-domestic buildings have high fabric standards, use low-carbon heating and are ‘zero-carbon ready’.
The national shift away from gas boilers and towards heat pumps is reenforced in the proposals. The document states:
“We found no practical way to allow the installation of fossil fuel boilers while also delivering significant carbon savings and ‘zero-carbon ready’ homes. As such, we do not expect fossil fuel heating, such as gas, hybrid heat pumps and hydrogen-ready boilers, will meet these standards. The standards proposed are also unlikely to allow the installation of biofuel systems, including wood and manufactured solid fuels.”
Alongside heat pumps, solar PV is expected to play a vital role in the development of net zero ready homes.
The government is also consulting on a new approved calculation methodology called Home Energy Model, or HEM, with an initial version to be released alongside the Future Homes Standard in 2025. This would replace the existing Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) which is currently used estimate the energy performance of homes across the country.
Despite these aims, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has warned that the government’s proposed Future Homes and Buildings Standards will set energy-efficiency standards lower than many homes built today.
Simon McWhirter, deputy chief executive at UKGBC said:
“This can’t genuinely be described as a ‘future’ standard. Having already shattered industry confidence with repeated green rollbacks, the government has opted for the least ambitious option that would deliver ‘future’ homes from 2025 at a lower standard than many homes already built today.
“On the last day of the global climate negotiations when we’re in the last chance saloon to keep temperatures under 1.5 degrees, it’s unconscionable that the Government is consulting on scrapping the expectation that new roofs should have solar panels, when this is already widely delivered through current regulations.
“While the Government is right, of course, to finally end the era of burning gas and oil in our new homes and buildings, fitting low-carbon heating sources such as heat pumps is already commonplace and the standard provides no improvement in energy efficiency.
“We’re disappointed that, despite such a long delay in producing this draft Standard, the Government still hasn’t included measures to reduce the embodied carbon emissions from construction which accounts for around 1 in 10 tonnes of climate emissions in the UK. Nor has it moved to tackle flood risk or end the huge water waste from new builds that is driving shortages and so much ecological damage.
“The best developers have spent years and millions gearing up for modern green building standards which shows that higher standards are possible. UKGBC will be convening our members to submit a detailed response to the consultation that sets out how higher standards can be practical, affordable and protect climate and nature.”
