The Future Homes Standard does not "switch on" overnight. There are five dates a developer or self-builder needs to understand: publication, regulatory commencement, HRB extension, transitional cut-off and the broader implementation timetable for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This page walks through each.
FHS 2027: what actually changes on 24 March 2027
Searches for "FHS 2027" want the in-force reality, not the consultation history. From 24 March 2027, new homes in England commencing building control must meet Part L 2026: solar PV equivalent to 40% of ground floor area (Requirement L3, output-equivalence basis), low-carbon heating (the carbon factors preclude gas, oil, LPG and hydrogen-ready boilers), and SAP 10.3 as the compliance methodology at launch — the Home Energy Model, postponed in June 2026, dual-runs for at least 24 months once approved. Transitional protection covers only buildings whose building notice, initial notice or full-plans application is with building control before 24 March 2027 AND which commence on site before 24 March 2028, judged per building. Plan backwards from those two dates.
24 March 2026 — Approved Documents published
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) published the final Approved Documents L and F on 24 March 2026, alongside the Government written statement HCWS1445. This is the moment the FHS became legally certain — designers can now design with confidence.
24 March 2027 — FHS comes into force in England
From this date, any Building Control application submitted in England must demonstrate compliance with Part L 2026. New starts at 2021 standards are no longer permitted. Projects already under construction benefit from the transitional period below.
24 September 2027 — Higher-Risk Building provisions in force
For Higher-Risk Buildings (blocks of flats over 18 m), additional FHS provisions and the Building Safety Regulator pathway commence six months after the main regulatory date. HRB projects have a longer programme so the staggered date avoids disruption.
24 March 2028 — Transitional period ends
Projects that commenced before 24 March 2027 (i.e. had a valid Building Control application in place) may continue to be built to Part L 2021 standards for 12 months — until 24 March 2028. After this date no transitional flexibility remains. Plots reserved for sale from late 2027 onwards are typically being marketed as FHS-compliant already.
Practical implications by build phase
Phase 1 (now to Q1 2027): redesign standard house types, retrain SAP/HEM assessors, agree per-plot PV+ASHP pricing with suppliers. Phase 2 (Q2 2027 onward): all new starts to FHS spec. Phase 3 (Q1 2028 onward): any remaining transitional plots completed; portfolio is now uniformly FHS.