Working with experts from across the housebuilding industry, the Future Homes Hub investigated how, as a society, the housebuilding industry can build zero carbon ready homes at the scale needed to guide the government as it looks to implement its 2025 Future Homes Standard (FHS).

By 2025, new homes will be required to reduce carbon emissions by at least 75%. They will also be expected to be net-zero ready through their use of lower-carbon heating and high fabric standards.

The findings of the Future Homes Hub’s research have been published in a new report, written with involvement from 170 people on behalf of 100 organisations across a range of industries – from housebuilders to manufacturers, planners and architects to warranty providers, and energy networks to green groups. Collectively, they looked at the implications of:

Level of insulation and fabric efficiency
Reduced air permeability and different ventilation provision
Double or triple glazed windows
Energy systems for space heating and hot water
Increased use of renewables

The report details how different specifications perform in terms of consumer, design, cost, planning, fabric, ventilation, heating, skills, manufacturing, maintenance, grid and metrics.

It then considers the factors the Government will need to take into account when refining the Future Homes Standard, such as the impact on UK electricity demand and household bills, build costs, and the pace at which we can adjust to new building methods and supply and install new technologies.

The findings of ‘Ready for Zero: Evidence to inform the 2025 Future Homes Standard – Task Group Report,’ will provide evidence to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), which is due to begin a formal public consultation this spring.

Ed Lockhart, CEO of Future Homes Hub, said: “Collaboration is an absolute necessity as we look towards readying the housebuilding industry for the 2025 FHS and towards net zero.

“There are implications for everyone involved. Developers, manufacturers, trades, infrastructure providers, banks, building control, surveyors and valuers will all need to work together to prepare for the changes to come.

“The Future Homes Hub was created to assist the industry’s shift to net zero, and we recognise that input from all stakeholders is vital in this journey.”

Working together in groups, participants considered five different approaches to fabric and low-carbon heating. These were thoroughly examined over a six-week period and subsequently presented and discussed during wider group sessions.

David Adams, Strategic Adviser for The Future Homes Hub and Co-Chair of the report, commented: “The techniques and technologies that are required to radically lower carbon emissions in houses already exist, so what we needed to do was to identify how, and if, a scale up could be addressed, working through a variety of different scenarios.

“While not offering advice, we wanted the report to detail different paths that could be chosen, and their various implications for industry, Government and, importantly, consumers.”

The culmination of this research, led by the Future Homes Hub, is 26 recommendations laid out in the report.

They include ensuring the Government is working alongside the housebuilding industry to carry out the Future Homes Standard, and that important updates are communicated clearly and as soon as possible – to both the industry and consumers.

Additionally, the report highlights the need for a specific focus on small builders who may struggle more to adapt to any new policies.

Considering how site layouts might accommodate homes designed to the new standard, and providing workforces with the additional skills required to build them, were also key points identified.

Read more from the ‘Ready for Zero: Evidence to inform the 2025 Future Homes Standard Task Group Report’ here.