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Homes for the Future
Our Homes for the Future Strategy brings together two distinct elements: our clear ambition for building zero carbon homes and the region’s proven capabilities in advanced manufacturing.
Using the latest digital technologies and innovations in construction, we aim to build more energy efficient, warmer, healthier, sustainable homes while creating brand new business, investment, and job opportunities.
Nationally, the Government has set out a clear plan for challenging the construction industry to embrace the building of energy-efficient, resilient, zero-carbon homes through planned changes to Building Regulations in 2025 (the Government’s ‘Future Homes Standard’).
The Government is also incentivising new building techniques through requirements set out in major funding programmes such as the Affordable Housing Programme, now run in the West Midlands by WMCA and Homes England following the 2023 Devolution Deal.
Homes for the Future fundamental principles:
We have sought to align the strategy with what is already happening in the region and beyond on development projects, leading industry standards such as LETI (the Low Energy Transformation Initiative) and existing standard outcome metrics such as Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV).
The PMV targets have been set in line with those of Homes England. Collectively, this will provide confidence to investors and developers (and Government) on clarity, certainty, case study evidence and delivery momentum.
The strategy and supporting Technical Standard set a clear, long-term ambition over the period to 2030, with incremental increases in requirements, enabling the construction industry to respond and invest over time, and as its capacity develops.
Building on feedback from internal and external stakeholders, and key initiatives such as our Climate Emergency, Devolution Deal and Plan for Growth, the strategy sets a trajectory that exceeds Government regulation in both scope and speed of implementation.
Our strategy requires no one, single, technical solution. We emphasise a phased approach and compliance focused on the outcome rather than the process, allowing the sector to innovate.
We also recognise the need to encourage behavioural change where we recognise that enhanced practical performance is not possible in the early years.
Delivery is critical, so we recognise the need to be practical. The Technical Standard sets out our expectations for performance over various timeframes. It also includes guidance on how the standard can be achieved in practice.
To build momentum and show that it can be done, we will build a catalogue of successful projects that showcase success, and share the technical solutions used to create an environment of continuous improvement.