The Government has now confirmed the final details of the Future Homes Standard, marking one of the most significant regulatory changes in the housing sector for over a decade. From March 2027, all new homes will be required to meet far higher energy performance standards, with a 12 month transition period leading to full enforcement by March 2028.
The message is clear: new homes must be low carbon, energy efficient, and “zero carbon ready”, without the need for future retrofit once the electricity grid is fully decarbonised.
This clarity allows the industry to plan with confidence, and we welcome the step forward.
What the Future Homes Standard requires
The confirmed changes include:
- No new gas connections: New homes must use low carbon heating such as air source heat pumps or connect to low carbon district heating networks.
- Mandatory solar PV: Solar panels must be installed with a minimum output equivalent to 40% of the dwelling’s ground floor area, with limited exemptions (e.g., buildings over 18m or sites unable to achieve a 720kWh/year output).
- Improved building fabric: More stringent U values and airtightness requirements to reduce heat loss and improve overall performance.
- Ventilation and overheating compliance: Continued focus on Part F and Part O to ensure homes remain healthy and comfortable.
While some in the sector feel the final standard is less ambitious than early proposals, it still represents a major shift in how homes are designed, costed, and delivered.
How Potter Raper is helping clients get Future Homes Standard ready
We are already supporting clients across the UK to prepare for the new requirements through:
- Early stage compliance strategy: Aligning design teams with the new Part L, Part F and low carbon heating expectations from the outset.
- Cost planning for heat pumps, solar PV and fabric improvements: Ensuring budgets reflect the technologies and performance measures that will now be required as standard.
- Risk and constructability reviews: Assessing roof capacity for PV, overheating risks under Part O, ventilation performance, and site specific constraints.
- Transitional programme planning: Helping clients understand which projects fall under which rules and how to de risk delivery during the transition period.
- Whole life performance and value engineering: Supporting clients to deliver homes that are efficient, comfortable, and future proof.
Strengthened by our Sustainability & Decarbonisation expertise
With the Future Homes Standard accelerating the shift to low carbon homes, our Sustainability & Decarbonisation specialists are working closely with clients to model carbon impacts, assess renewable energy options, and ensure compliance from concept stage through delivery.
These services directly support the new requirements and help clients prepare with confidence. Explore our Sustainability & Decarbonisation services here.
Our experience: Peasecroft Future Homes Standard pilot
Potter Raper has already supported clients through Future Homes Standard pilot schemes, including our work on Clarion’s Peasecroft development, an early adopter project designed to test emerging FHS principles in practice.
The scheme involved the demolition of four existing bungalows and the construction of five three bedroom houses and two two bedroom bungalows, all designed with enhanced energy performance and low carbon considerations.
Our services included:
- reviewing designer competence
- ensuring designer compliance under Regulation 9 CDM 2015
- developing survey and CDM risk trackers
- HSE notification via F10
- reviewing the Construction Phase Plan
- attending progress and design meetings
- monthly CDM site audits
- ongoing liaison with duty holders
- ensuring the Principal Contractor collated all information for the H&S File and O&M Manuals
Our view
The Future Homes Standard isn’t just a regulatory update, it’s a fundamental shift in how homes are designed, costed, and delivered. With the right guidance, it becomes an opportunity to build better, healthier, lower carbon homes without uncertainty or delay.
Potter Raper is ready to support clients through every stage of this transition.
If you’d like to discuss how the new requirements affect your upcoming projects, our multi-discipline teams are here to help. Get in touch today – info@potterraper.co.uk.
