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Government shares updated Future Homes Standard
T
he guidance, which governs the way that new homes have to be designed in England, means that from 2028, no new homes will be on the gas network – they will instead be on a heat network or get a heat pump.
They must also have solar panels on their roofs covering an area equivalent to 40% of the ground floor space.
Developers will be required to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England as part of updated planning requirements published by the government. The updated standard further states that plug-in panels, which can be self-installed by homeowners, are set to become available in supermarkets in the coming months. These small versions of the green tech are already deployed across Europe, but are not currently sold in the UK due to safety regulations.
When announcing the new measures, designed to increase solar energy usage, the energy secretary said the Iran war had shown clean power was “essential”.
While the move has been welcomed by some energy companies, stakeholders have raised a number of concerns, including the scale of solar required and potential safety issues. Gary Parker, head of technical at ECA, said: “I’m delighted to see a fabric-first approach and energy efficiency mandated in new builds from next year. ECA is a strong advocate for the transition to net zero and the deployment of well-designed, professionally installed low-carbon technologies. However, support for decarbonisation must never come at the expense of electrical safety, fire safety, or public confidence in the built environment. ‘Plug-in solar’ products, are not fit for purpose within the UK’s safety-led electrical framework and should not be encouraged.”
Yselkla Farmer, CEO at BEAMA, commented: “The long-awaited publication of the Future Homes and Buildings Standards marks a critical step in moving new buildings away from fossil fuel heating and towards electrification. It’s a shift we strongly support and have long advocated for, enabling a range of low carbon technologies to underpin a smarter, more flexible and decarbonised energy system. We hope that these decisions help to highlight the benefits of
On Tuesday 24 March, the government announced the latest update to the Future Homes Standard.
Developers will be required to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England as part of updated planning requirements published by the government.
electrification to the public and boost demand for new housing at a challenging time for the construction sector.
“However, it will be essential that the modelling and specification approach supports this diversity in practice, supporting a range of electrified solutions which enable choice and flexibility within the market. We also welcome the move towards mechanical ventilation, which will play an important role in improving indoor air quality and overall building performance.” Jeff House, director of external affairs and policy at Baxi, commented: “After many years of workshops, consultations and industry debate the long-awaited standards are finally here. Effectively, new dwellings and non-domestic buildings will be required to adopt low carbon heating technology to comply. Functional changes will be enacted through Building Regulations with new versions of Approved Documents L and F, although owing to transitional arrangements March 2028 will be the pivotal moment where change really happens in practice.
“Heat pumps and low carbon heat networks will become the norm here and we…also welcome the requirement to include a defined amount of on-site generation through solar PV which will help to reduce running costs of what will be fully electrified properties. We look forward to continued collaboration between industry and government to help bring the new standards to life.”
Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, commented: “The Future Homes Standard…builds on the strong momentum for small-scale renewables, which saw record numbers of certified installations for solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps in 2025.
“With more than 100,000 certified renewable installations on new builds last year, it’s clear housebuilders already recognise the role of MCS certification in underpinning consumer confidence, complementing Building Regulations and going beyond minimum compliance to improve real-world energy efficiency outcomes. The Future Homes Standard is also a significant opportunity for installation businesses, with a higher demand for competent, reputable installers to deliver a growing number of installations into new builds.”
The government has said the Future Homes and Buildings Standards (FHS) will come into force on 24 March 2027, providing a 12-month transition period.
10 | electrical wholesalerMay 2026
ewnews.co.uk
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