Library image, photo by Alireza Attari on Unsplash

Consultation: Future Homes Standard – changes to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings

13 February, 2020

Consultation: Future Homes Standard – changes to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings

Tadj Oreszczyn

Robert Lowe

Nick Eyre

Paul Anthony Ruyssevelt

Gesche Huebner

Consultation response   Buildings & EnergyDecarbonisation of heat

Tadj Oreszczyn, Robert Lowe, Nick Eyre, Paul Ruyssevelt and Gesche Huebner

In late 2019, the Government consulted on its proposed Future Homes Standard for England. This included revisions to Part L of the building regulations on the conservation of fuel and power, as applied to newly-built homes.

CREDS’ evidence to this consultation argues that the proposed regulations would not deliver future homes in line with the UK’s commitment to net-zero carbon by 2050, and would burden home owners with refurbishment for the next three decades. CREDS believes that future homes should not burn fossil fuels, and that the most resilient future homes are well-insulated and heated with electric heat pumps or via district heating. In addition future homes must be designed to prevent overheating and be cooling-prepared.

CREDS’ submission – main messages

  1. Simplify the regulations – make them easier to understand and implement.
  2. Close the performance gap – heat pumps are more sensitive to building heat loss, so getting the fabric right will be more important in properties with heat pumps, and will save costs. The biggest waste of effort will be investing resources on insulation which does not work in practice.
  3. Safer and healthier buildings – eliminating gas use removes the most important risk of explosion, as well as the production of moisture and pollutants associated with gas cooking.
  4. More robust regulation – helps the UK meet its 2050 carbon target, and more importantly to reduce total emissions from now till 2050, the critical factor in minimising climate change.
  5. Helps develop the UK’s heat pump market – essential for preparation for the much more challenging installation of heat pumps in existing buildings.
  6. Saves money on gas infrastructure – can be used to pay for zero carbon technologies.

Banner photo credit: Alireza Attari on Unsplash