We learnt more today about the Future Homes Standard. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has confirmed that the FHS will be published in the autumn and the vast majority of homes will have solar panels included as a ‘Functional Requirement’. Read more.

The announcement explains that the building regulations would be amended to explicitly promote solar, subject to the practical limits, whilst providing flexibility and that officials were working with industry to set the technical detail.

The announcement does not confirm the extent of the solar requirement although refers to a rooftop revolution. An illustration was provided suggesting a saving of around £530 a year which was based on a 3.5kW south facing installation.

Combining this announcement with other statements, what we know is:

• Homes will be gas free
  
• The vast majority of homes will need solar PV as a Functional Requirement but with flexibility
  
• The new energy calculation methodology, Home Energy Model (HEM) will be released in 2 phases, a ‘limited capability’ version in July / August and the fully functional version in the Autumn
  
• Alongside HEM, an updated version of the current methodology SAP with the FHS notional specification, would be available for a limited period
  
• The full standard will be published in the Autumn
  
• The announcement does not yet confirm the lead in and transitional arrangement timing, but the assumption that the Hub is using for its planning and preparation is:
  
• Legislation being laid before Parliament in December 2025 and coming into effect December 2026
  
• A 12-month Transitional Arrangement Period running to Dec 2027 after which all new homes commenced will be to the Future Homes Standard
  
• Expectation of mass scale building of homes to Part L FHS from mid-2028.

Matthew Pratt, CEO at Redrow and co-chair of the Future Homes Standard Implementation Board has published a blog today referring to the opportunity the Future Homes Standard represents to build better performing new homes, the challenges and the mission-based approach the sector is taking to secure implementation by collaborating through the Hub.

Matthew says: “We have a collective responsibility to support the whole industry with this change.”

Read the full blog post here.

The Future Homes Hub will host a FHS Q&A webinar on Friday, 13th June at 12-1pm to provide an overview of what is known, what further detail is expected is later and how the sector is working in partnership to deliver the standard at scale. The webinar panel will feature: John Palmer (MHCLG), Oliver Novakovic (Barratt Redrow), Jack Brayshaw (Vistry), Mark White (Bargate Homes), Charlotte Lee (HPA), Neil Madgwick (UKPN) and David Adams (Future Homes Hub).

Please register here if you would like to attend.