Agenda item

To consider a presentation by the Development Manager on the government consultation on the Future Homes Standard, its implications and how the committee can input to the process.

The government consultation commenced on 1 October 2019 and closes on 10 January 2020.  The committee has been provided with details of the consultation papers.  This is the first stage of a two-part consultation about proposed changes to the Building Regulations.  It also covers the wider impacts of Part L for new homes.  The consultation document is attached. 

The Cabinet member attended the committee for this item.  The development manager and the senior building control officer introduced this item. The committee had received a full copy of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s consultation on the Future Homes Standard. The consultation period was from 1 October 2019 to 10 January 2020.

The government had made a commitment to introduce a Future Homes Standard, by 2025 for ‘new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world leading levels of energy efficiency’. Energy efficiency requirements for new homes were set by Part L and Part 6 of the Building Regulations. The consultation of which this was the first of two parts, would also cover airtightness and improving the ‘as built’ performance of the constructed home.

The committee concurred that the focus on new build quality was to be supported, and a simpler compliance regime would assist designers and architects to fully understand the new standards, and work towards meeting them. A welcome innovation was the proposed requirement for the home occupier to complete a report certifying that the dwelling complied with the building regulations. Members questioned why the Future Homes proposals did not require the zero carbon homes that would be required to meet the council’s climate emergency targets. The standards proposed in the Future Homes consultation were lower.

The Chair requested that the council should respond to the consultation by stating that a universal national standard for zero carbon homes would be easier to manage than individual councils having to request and justify these zero carbon standards themselves. The committee agreed with officers that if the government were to set the standards proposed in the Future Homes Standard, these might not be high enough and they would wish to have the opportunity to set their own higher standards

The Part F (Ventilation) Regulations would benefit from a comprehensive update, as they were difficult to understand in their present form. The committee agreed with the development manager when she suggested that responding to the consultation by letter was the most effective way of providing considered views, as the Council could focus on local priorities, such as; concentrating on affordable homes, supporting housebuilders and encouraging the highest building standards. Under any new building regulation regime, an avoidance of self-certification would be a priority. Additionally, it was important for the new regulations to refer to extensions and loft conversions.

Caroline Newton left the meeting at this time and took no further part in the discussions.

The committee considered that the question posed by paragraph 2.28, about the re-wording of the Planning and Energy Act 2008 to deal with a new energy efficiency standard, required a carefully worded response, as it did not seem appropriate for the council to agree a lower standard in the regulations.

Stefan Gawrysiak left the meeting at this time and took no further part in the discussions.

The committee was concerned that private inspectors should be required to comply with South Oxfordshire District Council standards. In its ongoing work, the council should liaise with the town and parish councils and encourage them to undertake a baseline audit on energy usage.

The committee recognised that he consultation period had only a short time to run and it might be necessary to communicate views via the Cabinet or Cabinet member.