Housebuilders are not prepared for the Future Homes Standard

Due to come into effect in 2025, the Future Homes Standard (FHS) mandates that CO2 emissions produced by new homes should be 75-80% lower than those built to the previous standards. This means that, while it is expected that there will be a 6-12-month grace period following the regulations coming into force, housebuilders and developers should already be well underway with preparation to meet the expected deadlines.

However, according to our research, almost half (49%) of housebuilders say that their business is not prepared for the FHS and won’t be ahead of its implementation next year. What’s more, a further 61% think it will be extremely challenging to meet the legislation.

In the UK, the way that we heat our homes is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, so the FHS is a significant step towards achieving net zero. However, our survey of 100 UK housebuilders revealed that there are varying levels of confidence that new legislation will be successful. Over half of those surveyed (53%) said that while they welcome the Future Homes Standard, they do not think it is viable in the current environment and a further 57% said that the Standard will be a barrier to future housing delivery.

Housebuilders are already under pressure, facing major challenges such as issues with planning, the economy, and ambitious housing targets, so gearing up for the new legislation is adding to their already full plates. More support is required to ensure that housebuilders are ready for the upcoming changes. Two-thirds of housebuilders surveyed (65%) said that they feel that more government support is required and a further 68% cited that the government needs to invest in a well-funded National Retrofit Strategy if they are serious about addressing the climate emergency.

However, the government aren’t the only ones who need to step up and take responsibility. Successful implementation of the FHS will benefit us all, so manufacturers, trade associations, and employers all have a role to play. Education, upskilling and technical support from all corners of the industry will ensure heating and plumbing systems are truly future-ready.

At Polypipe Building Products, we are working closely with housebuilders, developers, specifiers and contractors to ensure that they have the support, resources and materials required. Our technical and specification teams are always on hand to offer advice, support and guidance when it comes to system design.