The Future Homes Standard - what it means if you’re planning your dream home.

Salmon's Director of Architecture, Matt Green, welcomes changes to the much-anticipated Future Homes Standard (FHS) which will finally come into force on 24 March 2027. This new standard marks a turning point in how new dwellings in the UK will be designed, specified, and delivered. 

Low energy home under construction – high levels of insulation, airtightness and underfloor heating fed from an air source heat pump. Built in collaboration with Ryan Hughes of Castle Carpentry & Building (www.castlecbc.com)

Here at Salmon our practice has already been building homes that meet (and exceed) these expectations. We’ve been working with these principles for years, so the Future Homes Standard feels like a natural extension of what we already do. Clients who have worked with us will recognise many of the features that are now becoming mandatory.

Greater emphasis will, in future, be placed on delivering dramatically lower-carbon, better-performing homes. 

Gas boilers are out, and heat pumps and solar panels are in. 

Ultimately the new standard means anyone building a new home will end up with a house that is warmer, cheaper to run, healthier to live in, and far better prepared for the future. Rather than adding complexity, it raises the baseline. High-performance, low-energy homes will become the norm rather than the exception.

What the Future Homes Standard means for someone planning their dream home

The changes are designed to make new homes far more energy-efficient from day one. For a future homeowner, the most noticeable impacts will be:

• Lower running costs - Better insulation, airtightness, and efficient heating systems mean your home will need far less energy to stay warm. That translates directly into smaller bills and more predictable costs over time.
  

• Consistent comfort - A well-designed building fabric will keep temperatures stable throughout the year. Fewer draughts, fewer cold spots, and a home that feels comfortable without constantly adjusting the thermostat.
  

• Cleaner, healthier air - Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) will become much more common. It will quietly bring in fresh air, remove stale air, and recover previously wasted heat in the process.
  

• No reliance on fossil fuels - Gas boilers are being phased out. Heat pumps and electric-led systems will take their place. These are cleaner, safer, and compatible with the decarbonising national grid.
  

• Ready for renewables - The new standard effectively mandates the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on new homes, so they can provide their own energy to supplement the grid. 
  

• Future-proofed value - A home built to these standards will hold its value better as energy regulations continue to tighten.

For most clients, the biggest surprise is that these improvements won't necessarily mean a more complicated home - just a better-performing one.

2 completed dwellings designed by Salmon Planning + Architecture. Meeting the targets in the future homes standard doesn’t mean you are pushed down a specific style or build type - you can still go bespoke.

Here at Salmon our practice has already been building homes that meet (and exceed) these expectations which include:

• Fabric-first design - We’ve always prioritised insulation, airtightness, and careful detailing. This reduces energy demand before any technology is added.
  

• Passive strategies - Orientation, window placement, shading, and natural ventilation are considered from the very first sketches. These choices make a home feel good to live in, not just perform well on paper.
  

• Low-carbon heating - Heat pumps, underfloor heating, and smart zoning are already standard in many of our projects.
  

• Renewable integration - Solar PV, EV charging, and battery storage are routinely incorporated into our designs.
  

• Low-carbon materials - We favour timber structures, recycled insulation, as well as locally sourced materials where appropriate, reducing embodied carbon without compromising aesthetics or durability.
  

• Performance verification - Airtightness tests, thermal imaging, and post-occupancy reviews help ensure the home performs exactly as intended.

  
  

In short, the Future Homes Standard doesn’t change our philosophy - it validates it. It can require a rather scientific approach to house design, but with positive goals. 

What this means for your future home

The new regulations aren’t legally required just yet - there is a 12-month implementation period that runs until 24 March 2027, followed by a 12-month transitional period whereby homes designed to meet current regulatory requirements can be built, provided notice is given prior to March 2027. 

Come and talk to us if you’re planning a new home and want to discuss timelines and requirements. You can contact Matt at matt@salmonplanning.co.uk and he'd be delighted to discuss further. 

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