Future Homes Standard: Industry calls for more ambition
In a significant demonstration of industry concern, a joint letter expressing disappointment over the proposed Future Homes and Buildings Standard has been sent to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC).
Drafted collaboratively by the Good Homes Alliance (GHA) and Bioregional, in partnership with the Low Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) and the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) and other organisations, the letter bears the signatures of 250 prominent industry and community leaders.
Despite some positive aspects, the Future Homes Standard consultation has drawn criticism from a wide spectrum of industry organsiations. The signatories, representing a diverse array of stakeholders ranging from developers and local authorities, to consultants and architects, emphasise the imperative of a higher standard which address the pressing challenges of building the sustainable, healthy homes with low bills needed.
The unified call for action demands further collaboration to deliver a fit-for-purpose proposal, advocating for measures that prioritise energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and resilience for new build housing. Signatories urge DLUHC to engage in substantive dialogue with industry stakeholders to set out future iterations of the standard and ensure its efficacy in advancing sustainability.
Sue Riddlestone OBE, co-founder and CEO of Bioregional said
“The industry, including mainstream housebuilders, were expecting something more coherent from the government than the two options in the FHS consultation. DLUHC’s reasoning behind the proposals is that firstly, higher standards will impact housing supply. They won’t! They can be factored into training and land values. Secondly, the consultation states that it will be cheaper to decarbonise the grid, but provides no evidence, at a time when grid electricity needs to grow fourfold by 2050. There is a huge amount of goodwill and experience in the sector, we stand ready to support policymakers to create a fit for purpose FHS.”
Lynne Sullivan OBE, Chair of Good Home Alliance said
“In recent months new reports have again evidenced the poor quality of UK’s new homes but the FHS proposals fall far short of our expectations for better fabric and post construction testing, to deliver consumer confidence in solving issues of mould growth and condensation and certainty of low running costs. Aside from the switch to low carbon heating, by failing to deliver on these - and their promises to tackle embodied carbon of materials – DLUHC’s proposals for a standard fit for our 2050 goals are inadequate.”
Read the letter and see the list of signatories here https://goodhomes.org.uk/future-home- standard-response-1.
This article was issued via Press Release as "INDUSTRY LEADERS CALL FOR MORE AMBITION IN THE PROPOSED FUTURE HOMES STANDARD" dated March 27, 2024.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- BRE Group response to the Future Homes Standard consultation.
- Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.
- Changes to Building Regulations Part F.
- Consortium issues urgent call for more ambitious Future Homes Standard.
- Getting zero carbon done.
- Future Buildings Standard.
- Future Homes Standard consultations.
- Future Buildings Standard shortcomings raised.
- Green Housing Revolution.
- Home design prospects under the Future Homes Standard.
- Home Energy Model.
- Hybrid heat pump electric panel heating.
- Is hydrogen the heating fuel of the future?
- National Design Guide.
- Pilot programme for National Model Design Code NMDC.
- The Home Energy Model and Future Homes Standard assessment wrapper.
- Thermal bridging and the Future Homes Standard.
Featured articles and news
Considerate Constructors Scheme acquires Building A Safer Future
Acquisition defines a new era for safety in construction.
AT Awards evening 2024; the winners and finalists
Recognising professionals with outstanding achievements.
Reactions to the Autumn Budget announcement
And key elements of the quoted budget to rebuild Britain.
Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers Budget
Repairing, fixing, rebuilding, protecting and strengthening.
Expectation management in building design
Interest, management, occupant satisfaction and the performance gap.
Connecting conservation research and practice with IHBC
State of the art heritage research & practice and guidance.
Innovative Silica Safety Toolkit
Receives funding boost in memory of construction visionary.
Gentle density and the current context of planning changes
How should designers deliver it now as it appears in NPPF.
Sustainable Futures. Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
More speakers confirmed for BSRIA Briefing 2024.
Making the most of urban land: Brownfield Passports
Policy paper in brief with industry responses welcomed.
The boundaries and networks of the Magonsæte.
London Build Fire and Security Expo
20-21 Nov and now with new Ambassador Programme..
The Scottish Building Safety Levy
Eight weeks of consultation closing on 18 November.
The grey, the brown and the golden rules of housing
shifting policies from the wild west of housing development.
Future proofing homes that are fit for purpose
Specification challenges and the role of plastic.
Thousands of new homes unlocked for brownfield sites
£68 million to 54 councils for neglected land into new homes.