Comment 9 COMMENT


The Future Homes Standard: What does compliance look like?


As the Future Homes Standard reshapes homes’ energy performance, Jon Ponting of AES Sustainability explores what compliance means in practice for developers and design teams.


T


he Future Homes Standard (FHS) represents the most signifi cant 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 effi ciently 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 defi ning 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’ values mean many developers are leaning towards higher performing windows, such as triple glazing or thicker wall cavities than before. T e uncertainty of how the Home Energy Model (HEM) is going to compare to SAP means housebuilders are nervous they will just scrape a pass in this early stage. While the notional specifi cation has been tightened for fabric – particularly


around airtightness, which improves from fi ve to four 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 refi nement. In this context, good practice continues to centre on build quality, detailed design and consistent delivery onsite, rather than radical alterations to wall build-ups or overall form. T e real shiſt under the Future Homes Standard lies in building services,


particularly heating. T e new Part L standard eff ectively 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 electrifi cation becomes the defi ning principle of compliance. While the regulations stop short of mandating a specifi c technology, heat


pumps are expected to become the dominant solution across the vast majority of schemes. When correctly specifi ed, 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 effi cient 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 shiſt and planning developments around low-carbon heating from the outset, rather than attempting to retrofi t solutions into established layouts. Alongside electrifi ed heating, onsite renewable generation becomes a core


Under the Future Homes Standard, most new homes will be required to incorporate solar PV


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 fl oor area where feasible. T is represents a fundamental change in how roofs are designed and used. Simple, south-facing roof forms can oſt en accommodate this requirement


Housing Management & Maintenance Autumn 2026


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36