Government Publishes the Future Homes Standard: What It Means for Homebuilders and Delivery Teams

The UK Government has today published the Future Homes Standard (FHS), marking a significant milestone in the transition to lower‑carbon, more energy‑efficient new homes.

The announcement confirms a clear route toward homes that are more comfortable, more resilient, and less exposed to fossil fuel price volatility, with mandatory application for schemes commenced after March 2028.

While many organisations have already begun adapting to these requirements, the detail published today provides greater certainty on timing, technical direction, and transitional arrangements.

Key headlines from today’s announcement

Transition arrangements

• Non‑High Risk Buildings:

  A 1‑year lead‑in period, followed by a 1‑year transition period.

• High Risk Buildings (HRBs):

  An 18‑month lead‑in period for Gateway 2 submissions, with the standard lapse of plans applying after three years.

Consultation – Option 1 confirmed

• Inclusion of:

  • Waste Water Heat Recovery

  • Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation

  • Airtightness target of 4 m³/(h·m²)

  • Heat pumps

  • Photovoltaic (PV) panels

• Notional fabric standards broadly aligned with Part L 2021, though impacts will need testing under SAP 10.3, particularly around ventilation, airtightness, and window U‑values.

• A separate notional specification will apply where heat networks are used.

• The notional heat pump within SAP 10.3 assumes a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) of 2.5.

Photovoltaic panels

• A new functional requirement for 40% PV coverage, meaning it cannot be traded off against other fabric or services improvements.

• A codified method will apply where 40% of Gross Floor Area cannot be achieved.

• Buildings over 18 metres are exempt from the PV requirement.

Part F – Ventilation

• Updated guidance to strengthen requirements around commissioning and performance verification.

Performance metrics retained

• Emissions Rate (TER)

• Primary Energy Rate (TPER)

• Fabric Energy Efficiency (TFEE)

Material change of use

• No change to existing limiting standards.

Future Homes Standard ‘brand’

• The proposal to introduce a formal FHS branding scheme will not be taken forward.

What this means in practice

The Future Homes Standard reinforces a direction of travel that has been clear for some time: manufacturing‑led design, integrated building services, and early technical coordination will be essential to de‑risk delivery. While the broad fabric standards may feel familiar, the combination of mandatory low‑carbon heating, non‑tradeable PV requirements, and SAP 10.3 assumptions will materially affect design decisions, procurement strategies, and build-ability — particularly for volume housing and industrialised construction systems.

The industry will need time to fully digest the detail, and further clarification is expected as the Future Homes Standard SAP & HEM Implementation Group continues its work.

Ottersbrook will continue to support clients in translating the standard into practical, deliverable solutions, helping teams align design intent, manufacturing capability, compliance evidence, and programme risk well ahead of the March 2028 commencement date.

Further reading can be found on the Future Homes website "Essentials" page here

or on the Governments' Future Homes Outcome page here where you can find most if not all of the data developed, for this standard delivery.