Future Homes Standard Update for Wales

The Senedd has published its response to last year's Approved Document Part L consultation, confirming new energy standards for building sites from 2027.

Strictly speaking, FHS doesn't apply in Wales, but this news broadly follows what we're expecting from the UK Government in the coming weeks.

https://lnkd.in/er4DvYPt

https://lnkd.in/eWSceQ9V

⏰ The final text of the updated Approved Documents haven't been published yet, but transitional dates have already appeared in Building Regs:

🔴 New registrations from 4th March 2027 will need to comply, and

🟠 Unstarted plots on any existing site in Wales, regardless of the original registration date, will need to comply from 3rd March 2028.

Housebuilders in Wales will need to comply with the new Part L, using SAP10.3, on all new sites from March 2027.

Without the final wording of Part L, and without access to SAP10.3, we can't check if specific designs comply, but here's a summary of what we do know:

📉 As expected, the Target Emission Rate is being cut significantly. The new Notional Specification (used to set targets) will include PV Panels, air source heat pumps and Waste Water Heat Recovery. Any designer wanting to use alternative systems can, providing the design doesn't generate higher emission levels than the Notional.

There was talk of also including MVHR and a lower air test in the Notional, but that was considered too restrictive for design flexibility.

💻 The Home Energy Model will be phased in to replace SAP10.3, but not straight away. SAP will be the only approved compliance tool initially. More details on timeframes will follow.

☀️ Onsite energy generation will become a functional requirement. In other words, PV will be required on all new buildings. Typically, 40% roof coverage for dwellings, offices and shops, and 60% for warehouses. Some exemptions will apply.

🟢 The current requirement for all new dwellings to achieve B-rated Energy Performance Certificates is going. See previous posts about EPC Reform. It's being replaced with an Energy Use Intensity target, which looks at total energy demand before PV is considered.

🏘️ Block Compliance, where an average SAP result is used, is being restricted to blocks of flats only. Terraced houses will no longer have this option. I'm sad to say Goodbye to this old friend. He's really helped me over the years!

📸 Photographic Evidence will be made mandatory for non-residential buildings. Currently this is only a requirement for homes.

🗑️ Building Regulations 25A (consideration for High Efficiency Alternative Systems) and 25B (all new buildings must be near-zero energy) are being scrapped. These are legacy laws from the EU, and are no longer necessary with these new targets.

♨️ Overheating (Part O) will be required for some residential extensions and retrofits on heavily glazed homes.

🏗️ Homes being extended will need to be upgraded with PV panels or heat pumps, if feasible.

More analysis to follow when Part L Wales is published!