Recommendation 10

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

The current timeline of the Future Homes Standard (FHS) delivers on our Net Zero commitments, while ensuring that new, good quality, warm homes are delivered in sufficient numbers in the places that need them. The Government has listened to calls for a swifter and more certain pathway to 2025 and have accelerated work on a full technical specification for the FHS. The intention is to launch a full consultation in 2023 and to introduce the necessary legislation in 2024, ahead of full implementation of the FHS in 2025. However, the Government is not waiting until 2025 to act. In December 2021, our uplift in energy efficiency standards began delivering meaningful reductions in carbon emissions and will provide a stepping-stone to the FHS in 2025. Once the uplift comes into force, in June 2022, new homes will be expected to produce around 30% less CO2 emissions compared to the previous 2013 standards. This will deliver high-quality homes that are in line with broader housing commitments and will encourage homes that are future- proofed for the longer-term. The Government is aware that some homebuilders are already building to fabric standards above the current Building Regulations and/or installing low carbon heating systems, but it is important that all parts of industry are ready to build homes that are fit for a zero- carbon future. To comply with the FHS, industry will need to develop the necessary supply chains, skills and construction practices to consistently deliver high quality homes that incorporate low carbon heat and high levels of energy efficiency. In practice, that will mean ensuring that all developers are ready to build to higher fabric specifications and that enough heat pumps and trained installers are available, as we expect heat pumps to become the primary heating technology for new homes.