Revisiting the Changes to Part L, F & O and the Future Homes Standard - Survey Results

A year on from a survey that canvased architects about their views on the mandatory introduction in June 2023 of the new Building Regulations Parts L, F and new Part O, a new survey of architects and specifiers has revealed the construction sector’s readiness for the Future Homes Standard coming into force in 2025. 

This thought-provoking survey carried out by Architect’s Datafile in conjunction with Edge Insight and sponsored by Leviat, has revealed that architects’ knowledge of the changes has improved since the first study but there remains a wide range of issues, from cost to impracticality, installation concerns and insufficient timescales. Furthermore, the arrival of the FHS consultation document in December 2023 has created further speculation. 
 
Part L 
The report found that there was a 12% increase in understanding of Part L as ‘very good’ (9% in 2023 to 21% in 2024) indicating that the upgraded Part L has become more familiar to architects as a consideration on their new schemes. Overall, 46% of survey respondents still only had ‘acceptable – very poor’ level of understanding of Part L. Those architects who said they had a ‘very poor’ awareness of Part L was 3% in 2024 compared to no respondents in the previous year’s survey which perhaps suggests that once the new Part L is implemented, more complexities are revealed.  
 
Carbon emissions reduction targets 
Survey respondents reported mixed progress on the new carbon emissions reduction targets for Part L. In residential, 33% said achieving 31% lower emissions would be 'very difficult' - similar to 2023. However, the overall picture improved, with 74% saying 'very' or 'slightly' difficult, down from 83%. In non-residential, the outlook was more positive, with 17% citing 'very difficult' compared to 30% in 2023. 
 
Specific barriers 
The practical challenges of Part L's implementation seem to have raised unexpected difficulties. Cost remained the top barrier, with 71% calling it a 'significant' obstacle in 2024, up from 66%. The delayed release of the Future Homes Standard consultation further exacerbated these issues as it made it harder for the industry to plan and prepare effectively. 
 
Competency 
Competency and quality of installation remained a significant barrier, with 48% saying that installation issues are an obstacle to achieving Part L. This suggests manufacturers and installers must improve to address architects' concerns. Technical knowledge and technology availability also ranked highly, though the latter improved slightly. Overall, the industry's capabilities seem to be a persistent challenge in meeting new Part L requirements. 
 
Testing and photographic evidence 
In terms of product testing, 67% of respondents said third party testing was important to product performance in meeting the FHS. Interestingly only 32% of respondents expressed confidence in the effectiveness of photographic evidence, now mandated for builders to address the performance gap. 
 
Manufacturer viewpoint 

Commenting on the report, Jonathan Vaughan, Technical Manager at Leviat said: “The latest survey results reveal an industry still grappling with the complexities and practical challenges of implementing the new Part L, F and O regulations. The findings underscore the critical need for continued collaboration, training and robust technical support to ensure the successful adoption of the Future Homes Standard.  

To gain further insight into the importance of regulatory compliance, Leviat's new white paper Bringing Clarity to Regulatory Changes looks at the current regulatory landscape and what new legislation means for structural components and the responsibilities of those that use them. It provides insight into the forthcoming changes and ensures stakeholders are ready to meet obligations and avoid risks going forward.  
 
Download the white paper from our Industry Insights page here.