Response to the Future Homes Standard consultation

The Sustainable Development Foundation has supported a growing collection of organisations in delivering a united response to the current Future Homes Standard consultation. All are agreed that neither of the options put forward in the consultation consultation go far enough in addressing the urgent need for change to meet our climate commitments, or the healthy homes with low bills that we need.

More than 170 signatories across the industry, including developers, housing associations and local authorities, architects and designers, consultants and engineers, and contractors, have added our signatures to a letter to DLUHC and DESNZ expressing our concerns with the options offered, and putting forward evidenced proposals for a better standard.

The letter has been drafted by Sustainable Buildings Alliance member the Good Homes Alliance and Bioregional, alongside other expert, industry-leading organisations LETI and the UK Green Building Council. Signatories are still being accepted – the consultation has been extended until Wednesday 27th March, and the letter will be open for signature until Tuesday 26th March.

This joint letter is an opportunity to advocate for positive change with one strong, clear proposal. Every signature counts and strengthens our influence. Read the letter and add your signature on the Good Homes Alliance website here:

Details of the consultation and associated documents can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-homes-and-buildings-standards-2023-consultation. Individual responses are also important, and LETI has drafted a guide on how to respond. Find it here: https://www.leti.uk/fhs.

Additionally, Sustainable Buildings Alliance member the Passivhaus Trust is calling for all-electric certified Passivhaus dwellings to be deemed to satisfy the new regulations, and for PHPP (the Passivhaus Planning Package) to be accepted as alternative compliance software.

The Town and Country Planning Assocation has issued a joint letter to the Secretary of State regarding the 13 December Written Ministerial Statement: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/joint-letter-to-the-secretary-of-state-regarding-the-13-december-written-ministerial-statement/