The Future Homes Standard (FHS) represents the most significant evolution in domestic energy performance requirements since the introduction of EPCs, setting a new baseline for how homes in the UK are designed and delivered. Moving beyond incremental change, it establishes a framework for zero-carbon-ready homes that are built to operate efficiently as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise. For developers, local authorities and design teams, the challenge now is not understanding the direction of travel but defining what ‘good’ looks like in practice and how to achieve it within a tightening regulatory timeframe.
In many respects, compliance under the Future Homes Standard is less about wholesale reinvention and more about targeted change. One of the more notable aspects of the new standard is that building fabric performance, long considered the cornerstone of energy compliance, is not subject to dramatic revision. Backstop U-Values remain unchanged but a couple of tweaks to the notional mean many developers are leaning towards higher performing windows, such as triple glazing or thicker wall cavities than before. The uncertainty of how the Home Energy Model (HEM) is going to compare to SAP means housebuilders are nervous to just scrape a pass in this early stage.
While the notional specification has been tightened for fabric – particularly around airtightness, which improves from 5 to 4 m³/m²/hr – these changes are evolutionary rather than transformative. Schemes that already perform well under existing Part L requirements are likely to translate successfully into the new regime with only modest refinement. In this context, good practice continues to centre on build quality, detailed design and consistent delivery on site, rather than radical alterations to wall build-ups or overall form.
The real shift under the Future Homes Standard lies in building services, particularly heating. The new Part L standard effectively removes fossil fuel systems from the equation, prohibiting heating sources that produce higher carbon emissions than electricity. As a result, gas and oil boilers will no longer be viable for new homes, and electrification becomes the defining principle of compliance.
While the regulations stop short of mandating a specific technology, heat pumps are expected to become the dominant solution across the vast majority of schemes. When correctly specified, they can meet both space heating and hot water demands while aligning comfortably with the required performance targets. Alternative approaches, such as direct electric heating combined with hot water heat pumps, may be possible in highly efficient dwellings, but these will require more detailed modelling to demonstrate compliance. In practical terms, good design under the Future Homes Standard begins with accepting this shift and planning developments around low-carbon heating from the outset, rather than attempting to retrofit solutions into established layouts.
Alongside electrified heating, on-site renewable generation becomes a core expectation rather than an optional enhancement. Under the Future Homes Standard, most new homes will be required to incorporate solar PV, typically sized to cover around 40% of the building’s ground floor area where feasible. This represents a fundamental change in how roofs are designed and utilised. Simple, south-facing roof forms can often accommodate this requirement relatively easily, but more complex layouts or less favourable orientations introduce additional challenges.
In these cases, achieving sufficient output may require panels to be distributed across multiple roof slopes, including front and rear elevations, to compensate for reduced efficiency. This increased reliance on PV places greater emphasis on early design coordination, particularly where competing considerations such as daylighting, overheating and planning constraints also influence house orientation. As a result, good performance is not simply about maximising solar gain, but about striking the right balance between energy generation and overall building quality.
Despite these technical changes, the visible character of new homes is unlikely to alter dramatically. The Future Homes Standard operates largely behind the scenes, embedded within services design and performance modelling rather than external appearance. Materials, layouts and architectural styles will continue to reflect local character and planning expectations, while energy efficiency measures become increasingly integrated and less visible. This is an important aspect of the transition, ensuring that improved environmental performance does not come at the expense of placemaking or market appeal.
While the direction of travel is clear, the transition to the Future Homes Standard is defined as much by process as by specification. The upcoming deadlines introduce a level of urgency that developers cannot afford to ignore. In England, the new regulations will apply to developments where building control applications are submitted and accepted from 24 March 2027, with a transitional window allowing projects submitted before this date to proceed under current regulations. However, this flexibility is limited: any homes not started by 24 March 2028 must be redesigned to meet the new standard. For high-rise and other buildings, a six-month extension applies, but the overall message remains the same. These are firm deadlines and with design, planning and procurement cycles often spanning several years, the time available to respond is shorter than it initially appears. The Wales equivalent goes live on March 4th and Scotland is still to confirm timescales.
The first step for developers is therefore to assess their pipeline and determine which projects will fall within the scope of the new regulations. This requires a clear understanding of submission dates, build programmes and phasing strategies, particularly on larger sites where some plots may straddle the transition period. Once this position is established, attention must shift to reviewing standard house types and technical specifications. Adapting designs to accommodate heat pump systems, identifying suitable roof configurations for PV and ensuring that airtightness and ventilation strategies align with the updated notional specification will be critical.
At the same time, the way in which compliance is demonstrated is evolving. The introduction of SAP 10.3, followed by the transition to the HEM, brings increased complexity and a greater reliance on detailed modelling. This shift reinforces the need for early engagement between developers, architects, engineers and energy consultants, as decisions made at concept stage will have a direct impact on whether schemes can achieve compliance without costly redesign.
Ultimately, the Future Homes Standard represents a move from anticipation to implementation. The key principles – low-carbon heating, on-site renewables and improved energy efficiency -have been well signposted for years. What has changed is the clarity of requirements and the immediacy of the timeline. In this new context, good practice is defined not by radical innovation, but by effective prioritisation: maintaining strong fabric performance, embracing electrification and integrating renewable energy as a core component of design. Those who act early and proactively align their processes and specifications will find the transition manageable. Those who delay risk being constrained by both time and compliance.
By Jon Ponting, Future Homes Standard Policy Lead at AES Sustainability