Government publishes final Future Homes Standards Impact Assessments
Posted by: electime 25th March 2026
The government has confirmed a phased implementation for the Future Homes and Buildings Standards: the new regulations will formally come into force on 24 March 2027, followed by a 12-month transition period. This means that by March 2028, every new development must fully comply with the new standards, ending the era of gas boiler installations in new builds.
While the government maintains the move will save families up to £830 a year on energy bills, the industry must now navigate a complex new landscape of mandatory renewable generation and “competence-led” compliance amidst this significant challenge from the regulatory watchdog.
NICEIC welcomes the government’s announcement on the Future Homes Standard, which marks a potentially significant step towards meeting the UK’s net zero commitments.
Paul Collins, Technical Director at NICEIC, said: “The announcement provides much needed clarity for households, industry, and installers.
“Key measures include the introduction of a functional requirement to the Building Regulations that new homes (with some exceptions) will be built with on-site renewable electricity generation, with the government anticipating the majority of this will be solar. The Future Homes Standard will also see homes built with low carbon heating such as heat pumps.
“NICEIC-certified businesses continue to play a key role in the net zero transition, and those with the right training and expertise will be well positioned to deliver as demand for new low carbon installations increases.
“For those considering expansion into renewables, the announcement should provide the reassurance needed to make the investment in training and upskilling.
“As attention shifts from policy design to delivery, it is clear successful implementation will rely on a highly skilled workforce. While significant progress has been made across the electrotechnical and wider built environment sectors, the skills gap remains a pressing challenge.
“Real and sustained progress will require a robust talent pipeline, supported by ongoing training and upskilling, to ensure professionals have the competence and capability needed to meet growing demand. Investing in people is an essential foundation of the transition and must remain a priority into the years ahead.
“We also note the government’s move to enable households to purchase ‘plug‑in solar’. As this technology becomes more accessible, electrical safety must remain the priority. Recent investigations by Electrical Safety First (ESF) highlight safety and regulatory challenges. We will work with ESF, industry experts and the government to ensure these are addressed so consumers can adopt the technology with confidence.”
Leading certification body and training provider NAPIT has also welcomed the Government’s Future Homes Standard, noting that it could create significant opportunities for its members involved in installing solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and electric vehicle chargers.
Stephen Melton, NAPIT Director of Commercial and Compliance, said: “The new standards have been a long time coming but it makes total sense for all new homes to be built with solar panels and alternatives to gas heating installed as standard. Coming on the back of the Warm Homes Plan, it should offer further clarity and opportunity to our members involved in the low carbon energy sector and provide significant growth strands for their businesses.
“The ease of installation and adoption of these technologies at new build stage compared to retrofitting an existing home are much more cost effective, efficient and attractive to homeowners.
“This will also act as a shop window for existing homeowners considering switching to low carbon technologies, providing they are installed correctly by certified, competent installers.”
“Whilst we welcome any initiative that promotes the wider use of solar PV systems, the announcement around plug in solar panels without the need for a qualified electrician, does raise concerns over safety. We look forward to working with the relevant industry organisations to ensure the safe roll out of these products.”
Responding to the plans to make plug in solar panels widely available to the public, Luke Osborne, Technical Director of Electrical Safety First, said: “Electrical Safety First welcomes the announcement of the Future Homes Standard, however, whilst we recognise the potential for plug-in solar panel systems to make renewable energy more accessible for millions, safety must come first. Recent investigations conducted by the charity have highlighted that, at present, plug-in solar systems supply power to household circuits in a way currently not permitted by regulations.
“Whilst the risk remains low, without wiring regulation changes and under certain conditions, plug-in solar PV systems connected to standard household sockets, can cause overheating or impair the operation of protective devices such as RCDs in a property. We are pleased to see the Government intends to address these issues and we believe new safety standards should be introduced rapidly, to ensure households can safely enjoy the benefits of plug in solar. We look forward to working with the Government to address these issues in detail.
“With the introduction of any new technology comes the risk of substandard versions making their way onto the market through unscrupulous sellers, and we continue to call for online marketplaces to be better regulated, to prevent unsafe products being available to households now and in the future.”
Neil Fitzsimons, Managing Director for Power On, commented: “The publication of the Future Homes Standard today recognises that high rise developments require a different approach to low-carbon heat and hot water delivery.
“At Power On, we recognised years ago that individual, unit-by-unit solutions like air source heat pumps simply do not stack up for tall buildings – technically, spatially, or economically. Instead, the answer sits with heat networks.
“We design and deliver integrated heat network solutions, powered by networked ground source heat pumps, large-scale air source systems, and centralised thermal storage. These are proven, operational systems already delivering low-carbon heat efficiently and reliably across complex developments.
“If the UK is serious about net zero, we must move beyond fragmented, building-by-building thinking. High-rise developments demand infrastructure-led solutions. Heat networks are not just an option, they are the answer.”
Meanwhile, Neal Herbert, Managing Director for GTC, commented: “GTC welcomes the publication of the UK Government’s Future Homes Standard, which sets a clear direction of travel towards low-carbon heating and signals the end of fossil fuel heating in new homes.
“We have been planning for this moment for many years. The decarbonisation of heat has long been on the political agenda, which is why we proactively designed and delivered not one but two scalable renewable heat network solutions for our housebuilder partners.
“Our Community Heat Hubs and Networked Ground Source Heat Pump systems directly align with the core technologies outlined in the Standard, combining efficiency, flexibility and long-term sustainability.
“Crucially, this is not theoretical. Over the past two years, we have been working with housebuilders across the UK to deploy these solutions at pace and at scale. Thousands of homes are already benefiting from our low-carbon, reliable and cost-effective heating and hot water, demonstrating that the transition is not only possible, but practical today.
“While the Future Homes Standard represents a major step forward, we recognise it will also present real challenges for housebuilders as they adapt to new requirements, supply chains and delivery models. The key now is moving from policy to delivery – quickly, confidently and without disruption.
“At GTC, we are already doing exactly that. Our customers are already specifying Future Homes Standard-compliant solutions, we are already installing them, and homeowners are already experiencing the benefits. And they have been for years. No delay. No uncertainty. The future of home heating is already here.”
