The Future Homes Standard for England is to be brought into force in 2025, according to government research published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy1. The standard applies to new build homes in England and follows a government consultation1. Separate changes are being introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland2.
Under the standard, new build homes are to be "future-proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency", with 75% to 80% lower emissions than homes built to current Building Regulations standards1. The Future Homes Standard is the Part L standard that is to apply to new homes built from 20251. BEAMA, the electrotechnical and energy industry body, states that homes built to it will not use fossil fuel heating and will be zero carbon ready, requiring no energy efficiency retrofit as the electricity grid decarbonises3. Myson, a heating manufacturer, gives the same 75% to 80% figure relative to homes built to Part L 20134.
The standard follows earlier changes to the Building Regulations in England. New regulations came into force on 15 June 2022 covering Part L on energy and carbon emissions, Part F on ventilation, Part O on overheating and Part S on electric vehicle charging points, reducing carbon emissions by at least 31% compared with the old regulations2. The government published the Part L 2021 standard in December 2021 as a stepping stone to the Future Homes Standard1. Transitional arrangements allowed building under the old regulations where a building notice, initial notice or full plans were deposited before 15 June 2022 and building commenced by 15 June 2023, applying only to individual plots where building had commenced2.
"The 'Future Home Standard' will take effect in 2025, requiring all new-build homes to adopt lower-carbon heating alternatives."
The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors states that gas boilers will be replaced by renewable heating systems in all new build homes from 2025, and that an estimated 85% of UK households still use gas and oil boilers5. It adds that a group of more than 20 businesses, energy suppliers, green and anti-poverty groups has called for a "Fair Heat Deal" to ensure an affordable transition from fossil fuel boilers, including free heat pumps for low-income households5. BEAMA expects almost exclusively electrified solutions such as heat pumps and direct electric heating, combined with mechanical ventilation3. It gives typical installed costs of £7k to £13k for air-to-water heat pumps and £1.5k to £5k per system for air-to-air heat pumps3.
| Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Carbon reduction | 75% to 80% lower emissions than current Building Regulations standards1; 75% to 80% against Part L 20133 |
| Heating | No fossil fuel heating; low carbon heating required1 |
| Retrofit need | None required to become zero carbon as the grid decarbonises3 |
| Earlier step | Part L 2021, published December 20211; 2022 regulations cut emissions by at least 31%2 |
Why it matters for households
The standard governs newly built homes in England, not the existing housing stock. Myson states that with around 200,000 homes built a year against a housing stock of approximately 28 million, the standard affects less than 1% of the housing stock per annum, and that a retrofit strategy is also needed4. For a household buying a new build, the practical effect is a home with electric heating, usually a heat pump, and a fabric designed to hold heat, which changes how the home is run rather than only how it is built. BEAMA notes that heat pumps perform best at lower flow temperatures, such as 35°C, and that annual servicing is required3. Myson states that heating systems will generally operate at lower temperatures4. The Future Homes Standard sets the framework; the choice between its options is set out in Option 1 vs Option 2, and the heating consequences are covered in new build heating. Households in existing homes are affected through separate routes, including boiler and heating grants in England. Scotland has its own New Build Heat Standard.
What happens next
BEAMA stated in April 2023 that the Future Homes Standard consultation was expected to be published in autumn 20233. No further date for the consultation or for the final regulations has been reported in these sources.
Sources5 cited
- Building for 2050: Low cost, low carbon homes - GOV.UK, gov.uk
- Overview of changes, futurehomes.org.uk
- Future-Homes-Standard-Phase-1-Network-to-Emitter-Impact-Report.pdf, beama.org.uk
- Is the Future Homes Standard sufficient to future-proof our building stock? - Myson, myson.co.uk
- APHC explains the 'ban on gas boilers' from 2025 | APHC, aphc.co.uk