Carbon reduction targets for new homes from 2020 – Net Zero – what does it mean for Housing?

11th October 2019

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a consultation (available here) on how it plans to achieve the “future homes standard” announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

The future homes standard is to be introduced in 2025 and is part of the Government’s plan for meeting its legally-binding target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, as housing stock is thought to account for around 20% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.

It is proposed that from 2020 all new homes must be able to demonstrate carbon reduction savings of 31% over the life-span of the development. Energy efficiency measures such as heat pumps, waste water heat recovery system, triple glazing and minimum standards for insulation of walls, floors and roofs are expected to enable homes to meet the standard.

This is the first stage of a two-part consultation about proposed changes to the Building Regulations, which closes on 10 January 2020. The second part, due in coming months, will deal with non-domestic buildings and building work to existing homes and buildings.