Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar availability

[edit] Approved Documents

On 24 March, 2025 the Government posted The Future Homes and Buildings Standards: Building Circular 01/2026, a letter which confirmed the publication of: The amended statutory guidance for the building regulations Part F. Part L being updated and renamed from it's previous title, Conservation of Fuel and energy to Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Approved Document L, as according to The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026 (the Regulations).

These Regulations will come into force on 24 March 2027, except regulations 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 which come into force for HRBs work and work to existing HRBs on 24 September 2027, subject to transitional provisions.

• Approved Document L (Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions) Volume 1: Dwellings
• Approved Document L (Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions) Volume 2: Buildings other than Dwellings
• Approved Document F (Ventilation) Volume 1: Dwellings.

The Regulations make amendments to the Building Regulations 2010 (the 2010 Regulations) to implement the Future Homes and Buildings Standards. The Future Homes and Buildings Standards being to ensure that new homes and non-domestic buildings are built with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency, so that buildings constructed to these standards will not require retrofitting to become zero carbon in use as the electricity grid decarbonises.

The Regulations amend the 2010 Regulations 2010 to:

• Create a new functional requirement (L3) for the provision of a system of on-site renewable electricity generation for new dwellings and buildings containing dwellings.
• Amend Part L of Schedule 1 to reflect the dual aims of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving energy.
• Amend the definition of “fixed building services” so that it includes lifts, escalators and moving footways in new buildings other than in individual dwellings.
• Introduce regulation 40C to require provision of information to homeowners of new dwellings in an appropriate format.
• The Regulations also make an associated amendment to Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (England) Regulations 2024 (the 2024 Regulations) so that registered building control approvers have functions in relation to new regulation 40C.
• The Regulations also revoke earlier transitional arrangements made in 2013 and related arrangements made in 2021, which enabled construction to 2010 energy efficiency standards – in each case subject to some exceptions.

[edit] Plug-in Solar

The Future Homes Standard introduces a functional requirement to the Building Regulations that new homes, with some exceptions (including high-rise buildings), are built with on-site renewable electricity generation. Solar panels are anticipated to be a large majority of this generation, and as such it also announced a further push for 'plug-in solar' to be more readily available in shops for those who wish to retrofit solar to properties. The secondary announcement "Government to make “plug-in solar” available within months" made also on 24 March, 2026 aims for "“Plug-in” solar panels to be available in shops within months, offering households the chance to significantly cut energy bills.

[edit] Reactions

[edit] CIAT welcomes Future Homes and Buildings Standard

CIAT has responded to the publication of the Future Homes and Buildings Standard. CIAT President Usman Yaqub PCIAT said:

"As industry strives to tackle the UK’s entrenched housing crisis, it is vital that we retain a focus on delivering high performing homes and buildings, which will meet the needs of communities for decades to come."

"CIAT therefore welcomes the Future Homes and Buildings Standard. Strengthened requirements for building performance, clean heating and renewable energy generation will cut running costs and carbon across England as the foundation for a sustainable built environment."

"While we recognise the new requirements will increase upfront costs, an emphasis on designing for sustainability from the outset can help mitigate these costs. As experts in technical design, Chartered Architectural Technologists stand ready to work with colleagues across the sector to ensure the Future Homes and Buildings Standard delivers real benefits for consumers and the climate".

"The best time to regulate for net zero ready homes was a decade ago. The second-best time is now."

[edit] ECA welcomes Government’s Future Homes Standard but warns safety could be compromised

[edit] Future Homes and Buildings Standards

ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) welcomes the announcement of the Future Homes and Buildings Standards, which will come into effect from March 2027. The trade body contributed to the Government consultation on the new standards.

The Standards will make sure new homes and non-domestic buildings are future-proofed with low carbon heating and high levels of energy efficiency. They will ensure new homes emit, on average, at least 75% less carbon as a similar new build from 2013.

The new Standards mandate solar PV and heat pumps are installed in the majority of new homes, a move welcomed by ECA. Decoupling energy generation from the volatile oil and gas markets could help save families and businesses hundreds of pounds a year.

[edit] Plug-in solar panels

While ECA welcomes speeding up lower bills, the trade body, which has advocated for safe and reliable electrical installation for over a century, has significant concerns about ‘plug-in solar panels’. Many of these products available internationally are poorly manufactured, inadequately tested and are not designed for the UK electrical environment. This means variable build quality, no consistent UK safety standards, questionable long-term reliability, and connectors and cabling that are not designed for prolonged outdoor exposure in UK conditions.

Currently, solar panels are designed to integrate with a local electrical system. They require installation by a qualified electrician to maximise efficiency and cost savings. Without this degree of technical knowledge, a DIY install of a safety critical product could overload the system and cause fire and electrocution.

Speaking about the Future Homes Standards, Gary Parker, Head of Technical at ECA, said:

“I’m delighted to see a fabric-first approach and energy efficiency mandated in new builds from next year. ECA is a strong advocate for the transition to net zero and the deployment of well-designed, professionally installed low-carbon technologies.

“However, support for decarbonisation must never come at the expense of electrical safety, fire safety, or public confidence in the built environment.

“‘Plug-in solar’ products, are not fit for purpose within the UK’s safety-led electrical framework and should not be encouraged."

The final two sections of this article appear on the CIAT and ECA news and blogsites respectively as "CIAT welcomes Future Homes and Buildings Standard" and "ECA welcomes Government’s Future Homes Standard but warns safety could be compromised" dated 24 and 25 March, 2026.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

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• BRE Group response to the Future Homes Standard consultation
• Home design prospects under the Future Homes Standard
• The Home Energy Model and Future Homes Standard assessment wrapper
• Consortium issues urgent call for more ambitious Future Homes Standard
• Future Homes Standard, solar and potential shortfalls
• Future Homes Standard: Industry calls for more ambition