The UK government has confirmed that the Future Homes and Buildings Standards (FHS) will come into force on 24 March 2027, introducing stricter energy efficiency and low-carbon requirements for new buildings. A 12-month transition period allows projects with applications submitted before this date to continue under previous standards.

All new residential and non-domestic buildings must now generate renewable electricity. This requires solar panels covering 40% of each dwelling’s ground-floor area, with exemptions for buildings over 18 metres tall or sites unable to achieve 720kWh/year output. Higher-risk buildings (HRBs) are exempt, with new regulations for HRBs applying from September 2027.

The FHS also mandates low-carbon heating, effectively ending the installation of traditional gas boilers, with heat pumps expected to become the default solution. Existing rules on high-efficiency alternative systems and nearly zero-energy requirements will remain to provide a baseline for energy efficiency.

The Building Safety Regulator will review Part O (overheating) to resolve conflicts with other regulations and practical challenges.

Industry responses have been supportive but cautious. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) welcomed mandatory solar panels but highlighted gaps in installer competence, cross-trade responsibility, and fire safety testing, citing a rise in solar-related fires. Ben Rowlands, NFRC’s head of solar PV, stressed the importance of proper safety standards.

Deepika Singhal, head of ESG at Hollis, urged developers and designers to act now, calling the FHS a long-overdue reset and a critical step toward net zero by 2050. Originally planned for 2025, the FHS follows the scrapped Zero Carbon Homes standard of 2016, ensuring sustainable, low-emission buildings for the future.