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Boss of house builder appointed co-chair of Future Homes Standard implementation board
The chief executive of a FTSE 250 house builder has been appointed as co-chair of the government’s Future Homes Standard implementation board.
Matthew Pratt of Redrow will lead the board alongside Catherine Adams, director of net zero and greener buildings at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
The board brings together house builders and industry partners to anticipate, identify and monitor key issues and actions required to deliver the standard.
The Future Homes Standard, which is set to be introduced in 2025, will require new homes to reduce carbon emissions by at least 75% through low-carbon heating systems and fabric standards.
Gas or oil boilers in new build homes will therefore effectively be banned in two years’ time.
Over the next three years, the board will focus on driving greater collaboration across the sector to meet climate and environmental goals.
Alongside the Future Homes Standard, its key priorities include water efficiency improvements, biodiversity net gain and improving sustainability metrics.
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Other members of the board include leaders from companies such as Citizens Advice, Homes England, the Home Builders Federation and the National House Building Council.
Mr Pratt’s appointment follows Redrow’s commitment earlier this year to install air-source heat pumps across all its new developments two years ahead of the Future Homes Standard deadline.
Mr Pratt said: “Transitioning to new low-carbon forms of energy is vital for both the industry and our customers. As house builders, we are in a unique position to deliver high-quality, more efficient homes for customers that also respond to the climate needs of our country.
“It will continue to be one of Redrow’s highest business priorities, and something we actively invest in through new technologies and partnerships. No individual business can achieve the pace of change required alone, and I’m looking forward to driving forward even greater collaboration to deliver homes that are future fit for our people and our planet.”
Ms Adams said: “The Future Homes Standard is a key part of our shared journey to a net zero future and we all need to work together to ensure that the skills, supply chains and competencies are in place in good time to support our vision.
“This forum will ensure that the myriad of processes, people and products that go into our housebuilding industry are properly prepared for what is going to be a welcome, but challenging step change in the energy efficiency of our homes.”
Ed Lockhart, chief executive of the Future Homes Hub, said: “The Future Homes Standard will be a major change in the way we design new homes in England with a 75% to 80% reduction in carbon emissions and moving off the gas grid.”
He stated that success will depend on a period of intensive collaboration between home builders, infrastructure providers, supply chain, software providers, government departments and local government.
He added: “It will also require us all to pool knowledge and experience to help all homebuilders to access the right information at the right time and scale up the best solutions. The FHS [Future Homes Standard] implementation board will be a vitally important mechanism to bring that collaboration together and I am hugely grateful to Matthew and Catherine for agreeing to lead it.”
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