The Future Homes Hub announced on 4 March 2026 the launch of a campaign to help the homebuilding sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards, calling on builders of all shapes and sizes to start their journey towards Future Homes Standard compliance1. The Future Homes Standard will be mandatory on all homes where construction is commenced after March 20282.
The campaign is built around the "Future Homes Standard Essentials", which the Hub says set out seven critical actions to help homebuilders and their advisors to de-risk the delivery of more sustainable homes that are comfortable, healthy, low-energy, zero carbon ready and aligned with the future energy system2. The Hub is releasing new guidance on topics including grid connections and the customer journey through to heating design and procurement1. Small and medium-sized enterprise homebuilders are considered vital to achieving the UK government's target of 1.5 million new homes and are a primary focus for the campaign1.
Central to the standard is the move away from fossil-fuel boilers to low carbon heating systems, often in the form of heat pumps1. Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive of HPA UK and Chair of the Future Homes Hub Heat Pump Development Group, said around 25% of UK new-build completions in 2025 installed a heat pump, up from 15% in 2024, and that the forthcoming standard will go further, effectively prohibiting new homes from connecting to the gas grid and driving a significant increase in heat pump adoption1. The Hub states that heat pumps operate at lower temperatures, which require high levels of construction and heating system precision to deliver the required level of performance1.
Ed Lockhart, Chief Executive of the Future Homes Hub, said:
"The introduction of the Future Homes Standard is a transformational moment for the sector and for the residents of new homes."
In a later post responding to the publication of the standard, Lockhart said the publication "isn't just about a change in regulation - it's a promise to consumers that new homes will be more comfortable, more efficient, and more secure against the volatility of unstable fossil fuel markets"2. That post states that today's announcement sets the timeline for all new homes to meet these higher standards from 20282.
Why it matters for households
The standard applies to new homes, not to existing ones, so its direct effect on a household depends on whether the home is newly built. For buyers of new homes, the direction set out is a move away from gas grid connections and fossil-fuel boilers towards low carbon heating, most often heat pumps1. That changes how a home is heated, how it is commissioned and how it is used, and the Hub notes that heat pump performance depends on careful design and informed use1. The Hub frames the change as reducing exposure to unstable fossil fuel markets2. The carbon reduction expected under the standard and the choice between Option 1 and Option 2 are set out separately. Further detail on the wider policy background sits in the regulation and policy hub.
What happens next
The Hub will hold two Future Homes Standard Technical Conferences in June 2026, on Tuesday 9 June at Leeds Beckett University and Wednesday 17 June at Central Hall Westminster2. The Hub says places will fill up fast2. The standard will be mandatory on all homes where construction is commenced after March 20282.