The consultation - The Future Homes Standard: changes to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings – which ran from October 2019 to February 2020, offered two options for improving the energy efficiency of new homes through Part L: a 20% reduction in emissions against current standards through the fabric, or the tougher 31% improvement, involving the fabric and use of technologies.
New homes will also be subject to an overheating mitigation requirement through Building Regulations, a consultation on which runs until April 13.
The announced changes, it is envisaged, will be introduced in late 2021 to come into effect in 2022. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the one-year transitional arrangements would apply to individual homes, not entire schemes.
The long-anticipated changes to Part L and F are part of the government’s preparation for its Future Homes Standard. Under this, all new homes must be “highly energy-efficient”, featuring low carbon heating and be “zero-carbon ready” by 2025, with the properties set to produce a 75-80% reduction in emissions compared to current levels.
Christopher Pincher, Housing Minister, said: “Improving the energy performance of buildings is vital to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and protecting the environment for future generations to come.
“The radical new standards announced today will not only improve energy efficiency of existing homes and other buildings but will also ensure our new homes are fit for the future, by reducing emissions from new homes by at least 75%.
“This will help deliver greener homes and buildings, as well as reducing energy bills for hard-working families and businesses.”
