Construction veteran Steff Wright has called for the government to roll out a voluntary Future Homes Standard (FHS) and incentivise its uptake via targeted stamp duty relief.
This would work by removing stamp duty on homes that comply with the higher standards, enabling developers to charge more due to the buyer paying less tax.
To drive this campaign, a group, led by Wright’s Gusto Construction, has penned an open letter to housing secretary Steve Reed and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Housebuilders, developers and housing associations across the UK are currently frustrated by the FHS being continually delayed.
Wright, founder of Gusto Construction, said: “From my conversations within the industry, many of us have already gone to significant lengths to prepare for the FHS, including pouring time and money into innovation and development, all of which feel very much in vain currently.
“All whilst others either do not know how best to prepare or see no incentives in doing so. This needs to change. We need to support those who are already taking steps to build to a better standard and motivate others that haven’t yet began this journey, with the aim ultimately to provide consumers with higher quality housing.”
If a voluntary FHS was introduced early movers would encourage manufacturers and installers to invest in products, skills and tools, Wright added.
It would also let developers refine designs and supply chains before the standard becomes compulsory, as well as allow buyers to see the difference for themselves in real homes, not in brochures or future consultations.
Wider benefits of improving the quality of homes would cut carbon emissions and reduce exposure to volatile energy prices.
Wright added: “The homes we build today will shape the country’s comfort, health, and energy use for decades.
“Many of us in the sector already work to higher performance levels such as the AECB (Association of Environmentally Conscience Builders) Standard because the benefits are obvious: warm homes that stay warm, clean indoor air, lower bills, and the ability to generate a good share of your own electricity.
“Making the Future Homes Standard mandatory is the natural next step. However, the timeline is being continually delayed, without clear guidance on how businesses can prepare or incentives to do so.
“The industry can only plan properly when the direction of travel is explicit. Our proposal sets out a simple, practical route to give that clarity now while retaining flexibility for those not yet ready to adopt.”