The Future Homes Hub has launched a new report which will help to inform the government’s long-term roadmap for water-efficient new homes.
Developed by a cross-industry working group convened by the Future Homes Hub, the ‘Water Ready’ report proposes an ambitious but deliverable roadmap for industry towards building highly water-efficient new homes. It also sets out recommendations to overcome potential barriers and calls on the government to provide long-term clarity on the proposed increases in water efficiency required under Building Regulations in 2025, 2030 and 2035.
Water efficiency is a key part of the homebuilding sector’s overall sustainability roadmap, ‘Future Homes, One Plan’, which sets out the industry’s pathway to building a generation of high-quality, affordable and sustainable homes and communities.
Ed Lockhart, CEO of Future Homes Hub, said: “The Environment Agency’s latest water assessment is sobering. Without early action there will be a shortfall of around 5 billion litres of water by 2050, more than a third of the 14 billion litres of current public water supply.”
“Alongside the major investment in infrastructure required from the water sector, we must all find ways to use water more efficiently so there is enough water for our homes, food, drinking water, industry and so on.”
“The Hub has brought together the homebuilding sector, water community, expert and public bodies to plot out the roadmap required to scale up the solutions and innovations for new homes, both rapidly and cost-effectively. This report is just the beginning and the Hub is ready to work with government and industry to drive this agenda forward.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned the Future Homes Hub to support them with the creation of a roadmap towards greater water efficiency in new developments. This report builds on previous work that informed both the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan and the Plan for Water.
The Future Homes Hub’s Water Efficiency Group is made up of 32 sector leaders including house builders, water companies, manufacturers, trade and professional bodies, and was formed to provide insight, develop proposals and identify the issues that need to be resolved.
The report sets out actions for government and the industry to take to achieve 90 LPPPD (litres per person per day) in new homes as standard by 2035, with 80 LPPPD in water-stressed areas and potentially going even further in the most water-stressed areas of the country.
The report proposes a ‘fittings first’ approach, such as air-boosted showers and grey water systems. The clarity and certainty provided by the long-term road map would help to drive the innovation in the technology required to meet the target at scale.
Importantly, the report also sets out a framework for the homebuilding sector to work in partnership with, amongst others: the water sector, central government, local authorities, regulators (including Environment Agency, Drinking Water Inspectorate and Ofwat), water expert bodies and manufacturers to ensure that new homes in England are water efficient, while also meeting consumers’ expectations.
Jean Spencer, chair of the Independent Programme Board of the Enabling Water Smart Communities project, said: “There is a pressing need for long-term planning and stewardship for the use of our water resources. I welcome the initiative taken by the UK’s homebuilders, working with the wider industry and supply chain through the Future Homes Hub, to look at how we can deliver reductions in household water consumption.”
“I also welcome the ambition of the Hub’s work – proposing a trajectory for improving water efficiency in new build homes looking ahead to 2035. This is a big and important agenda, but with the will to work collaboratively that has already been shown through the Hub’s work I believe we will be able to move forward together effectively.”
David Thomas, chair of the Future Homes Hub and chief executive at Barratt Developments, said: “Water is fundamental to the health of our natural environment. From a home building perspective, we are already seeing the pressures on water supply affect the delivery of new homes.”
“It is clear, therefore, that the industry needs to work with government and other partners to develop and deliver a national strategy for managing our water resources successfully, to ensure we can build the water efficient homes required to meet housing need into the future. This report is an important step on that journey.”
“I am grateful for the contribution all involved have made to this report, particularly to Louise Clarke of the Berkeley Group for her leadership in chairing the working group.”
Nicci Russell, chief executive at water efficiency campaigning experts Waterwise, said: “We welcome the publication of the Future Homes Hub report and are pleased to be part of the working group that helped develop it.
“The UK Water Efficiency Strategy to 2030 highlights the importance of ensuring that new homes are far more water efficient in the future if we want to make sure we have enough water for people, business and the environment. As the UK’s conscience on water efficiency, we stand ready to work with the housing sector and wider stakeholders to help deliver the water savings we need to make.”
