While the delay to the Future Homes Standard until 2027 has faced criticism, City Plumbing says housebuilders should use the extra time to improve heating and renewable energy planning while building the skills and supply chains needed for low-carbon homes at scale.
The decision to delay the implementation of the Future Homes Standard until 2027 has attracted criticism across the built environment sector, with many warning it risks slowing momentum towards low carbon homes.
However, City Plumbing is urging housebuilders to view the additional time as an opportunity to adopt a more integrated approach to heating and renewable energy design, while strengthening the skills and supply chain capability needed to deliver low-carbon homes at scale.
"The Future Homes Standard represents one of the biggest changes to new build housing in decades, so it is understandable that the industry is focused on how this can be delivered practically and consistently at scale," said Roz Kane, Managing Director of Spares, Electrical and Renewables at City Plumbing.
"The delay until 2027, with a 12-month transition period, gives housebuilders the extra time to strengthen technical capability, improve coordination across projects and importantly, adopt a true whole home approach. As homes become more electrified, there are more interdependencies between technologies. Heat pumps, solar PV, battery storage, controls, emitters and fabric performance all influence one another, so early design coordination becomes increasingly important."
To support developers through the transition, City Plumbing provides a New Build Design Service to integrate heating, hot water, solar PV, EV charging and battery storage in a single, coordinated design process.
By working with the design team, housebuilders benefit from a more streamlined system that can reduce capital spend, simplify installation across trades and improve operational efficiency once homes are occupied. Integrated controls and coordinated layouts can also help reduce post-completion queries and support a smoother buyer handover.
City Plumbing also believes the transition period presents an important opportunity for the industry to strengthen technical training and improve low carbon installation standards.
The merchant has partnered with training provider GTEC to help installers develop the skills needed to work with technologies such as air-source heat pumps and solar PV. These practical courses cover the design, specification, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of domestic and small commercial systems, combining classroom learning with practical training on purpose-built live rigs. Installers who complete the course achieve an LCL Awards Level 3 Certificate, recognised by MCS.
"The industry has already made significant progress, but there is still a major opportunity to continue building installation standards," added Kane. "For low carbon homes to perform as intended, the industry needs both strong design and high quality installation. This transition period gives the sector the chance to strengthen both."
