APRIL 2026 | VOLUME 64 | ISSUE 3


Future Homes Standard delivers long-term clarity


The government has launched the long- awaited Future Homes Standard (FHS). While the full rollout won’t take eff ect until March 2028, industry stakeholders have welcomed the long- term clarity it provides.


The new regulations include measures designed to make homes cheaper to run and more energy-effi cient. Solar panels and low-carbon heating will become standard on new-builds, with estimated potential savings of up to £830 a year on energy bills for households compared with a typical EPC C-rated home. New- builds will also emit at least 75% less carbon than homes built under 2013 regulations. The FHS applies only to England,


with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland setting separate building regulations. Under the new rules, all new English homes will be off the gas grid, relying on heat pumps or heat networks. Roofs must accommodate solar panels covering 40% of the ground-floor footprint, and smaller plug-in solar panels will be allowed for fl ats or homes with limited roof space. While compliance will raise


construction costs, the changes are expected to drive long-term savings for households and create market certainty for heat pumps, solar, and low-carbon


construction. Exemptions exist for sites with limited rooftop space, with individual assessments ensuring each property meets the standard. Another change is the move


towards a new compliance tool, the Home Energy Model (HEM). This promises more accurate energy performance predictions than the current Standard Assessment Procedure. But HEM isn’t currently ready, so to help with the transition when it is launched later this year, housebuilders can opt for either tool for the next two years. The FHS will take eff ect from


March next year, but there will be a 12-month transition period so housebuilders can use the 2021 Part L regulations until March 2028, providing they start construction before then. This eff ectively means that house buyers won’t be able to purchase properties built to the new standard until the end of this decade. While some housing developers


have expressed concerns about the additional costs of abiding by the new regulations, most HVAC industry stakeholders


have responded positively to the clear roadmap it provides for the phasing out of the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.


Positive response Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, comments: “We welcome the government’s commitment to the small-scale renewable energy industry and net-zero by ensuring solar panels and low-carbon heating systems will be installed on the majority of new homes in England from 2028. “The Future Homes Standard


is also a signifi cant opportunity for installation businesses, with a higher demand for competent, reputable installers to deliver a growing number of installations into new-builds.” Charlotte Lee, chief executive


of the Heat Pump Association, has also hailed the boost the government’s announcement gives to the UK heat pump market: “We are delighted to get confirmation that following a transition period, all new homes and buildings will benefit from low carbon heating such as heat


pumps and heat networks. Coupled with solar PV, heat pumps and connections to heat networks provide a future-proofed solution which will strengthen the UK’s energy security. “Whilst the sector has been


scaling up, with over a quarter of new homes built in the UK in 2025 having a heat pump, this clarity will unlock further investment into the supply chain, supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs, and contribute to the UK’s wider economic growth.” Industry umbrella body the


Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) has similarly welcomed the long-term assurance that the FHS provides, but has also stressed the importance of distinguishing the relative ease that low-carbon solutions can be installed on new- build developments compared to refurbishment projects. EUA CEO Mike Foster says:


“Certainty is essential for long term investment, and today’s announcement provides exactly that. We have always anticipated that new build properties would be where technologies such as heat pumps and heat networks become mainstream. “Drawing a distinction between


new-build requirements and those of the retrofi t market is key to a sensible home decarbonisation agenda. New homes can more easily be built to a lower carbon standard. Each existing home is a bespoke unit, requiring a variety of solutions. That’s an important lesson that I hope government has now accepted.” For more industry reaction, please see page 4.


Inside this issue phamnews.co.uk


Talent Show See page 12


Gadgets & Tools See page 15


Training Update See page 16


Products in Action See page 30


Get your FREE CATALOGUE TODAY


Plumbing, heating and gas supplies...


FAST! Call free 0800 80 10 90


Order online bes.co.uk


Order Mon-Fri ’til 9pm for


FREENEXT DAY DELIVERY*


Sat/Sun ’til 3pm for Monday delivery


SIGN UP for


GREAT DEALS TODAY


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  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40