Future homes hub

[edit] Background

In 2019, as part of what it called the green housing revolution, the Government published a green standard to cut carbon emissions by up to 80% for all new homes from 2025. Unveiled by the Housing Secretary the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, the Future Homes Standard aimed to promote and support the net zero target.

As part of this endeavour the Future Homes Task Force was set up in 2020. The brief for the Task force was to direct the construction and fabric efficiency of tomorrow’s new homes, how they are powered and how they take account of and impact on the environment within which they sit. The brief included the development of a master-plan, to sequence and prioritise work streams across the sector, including its supply chains, founded on the main environmental targets articulated by the government – the natural environment, resources, water, and air quality.

One of the first objectives of the Task Force was to establish a fully funded Delivery Hub to implement the master plan and drive forward work on a day-to-day basis.

[edit] Role

The Hubs website states:

In September 2020, the Future Homes Task Force was set up to develop a long-term delivery plan for the sector in line with the Government’s legally binding net zero and wider environmental targets. The Delivery Plan is divided into four areas with a goal and roadmap for each area.

The Future Homes Hub has been established to facilitate the collaboration needed within and beyond the new homes sector to help meet the climate and environmental challenges ahead.

[edit] Goals

The goals are:

• High-quality homes that are zero carbon ready and sustainable.
• Places and developments that are consistently low carbon, nature-rich, resilient, healthy, well designed and beautiful by 2025
• Production and construction methods that are net zero and sustainable by 2050 with substantial progress by 2025 and 2030.
• Businesses that are recognised and rewarded for net zero and sustainability performance

[edit] Activity

In practice this means several types of activity:

• Developing technical solutions for regulatory changes.
• Collaborating sector-wide to overcome barriers to successful implementation, for example on skills and supply chain.
• Developing industry-led proposals for current and future policy challenges.
• Creating the basis for measuring sustainability performance and capturing the value of improving performance.
• Communicating with all parts of the homebuilding sector, especially SME's.
• Facilitating sharing and learning across the sector.

[edit] Guidance

The Hub offers a variety of free guidance documents to the industry, including guidance on the 2022 revisions to Part L and the new Part O as well as renewable systems, car charging and much more.

For more information visit the hub website at https://www.futurehomes.org.uk/

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• BRE Group response to the Future Homes Standard consultation.
• BRE response to the green housing revolution.
• Climate change Act.
• Energy Act.
• Energy Performance Certificates.
• Energy Related Products Regulations.
• Energy targets.
• Future Homes Standard.
• Government Construction Strategy.
• Home design prospects under the Future Homes Standard.
• Sustainability.
• Sustainable materials.
• UK Green Building Council.
• Zero carbon homes.
• Zero carbon non-domestic buildings.