UK100 has submitted a response to the government's consultation on the Future Homes Standard. The Future Homes Standard aims to significantly improve the energy efficiency requirements for new homes.
In its response, UK100 welcomed the proposed uplifts as a step in the right direction but believes the plans still fall short of what is needed to ensure new homes are truly future-proof and do not require costly retrofitting in the future. UK100 outlined seven key concerns with the current proposals:
- The overall ambition level of the Future Homes Standard
- Fabric energy efficiency standards
- The performance metrics used to assess new homes
- Lack of provisions to address embodied carbon
- Allowances for developers to avoid fully meeting the standards on viability grounds
- Need for mandatory post-occupancy evaluation
- Clarity needed on powers for local authorities to go further than the national standards
UK100 urged the government to address these shortcomings in the final Future Homes Standard, including advocating for local authorities to have the ability to set higher local standards where viable, to accelerate progress towards Net Zero buildings and avoid the need for future retrofits. Overall, UK100 called on the government to be more ambitious and work with local leaders to ensure the Future Homes Standard delivers the high-quality, Net Zero-ready homes needed across the country.
UK100 has also signed this joint sector-wide letter to The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities expressing fears that the Future Homes Standard consultation options do not go far enough in addressing the urgent need for change to meet our climate commitments, or the healthy homes with low bills that we need.
