Strategic Priority 2: Council Housing New Build Standards

Action required:

• Complete the Future Homes Standard 2025 pilot scheme (Testwood Club) by 2023.
• Align Development Strategy with Greener Housing Strategy by agreeing a new component level build standard for our own council led developments by April 2024, which achieves our greener housing aims and establishes a routine development standard for:- Heating Type- Glazing- Insulation and thermal fit- Building Fabric- New low carbon/renewable energy technologies- Photo Voltaic panels- Materials used- Electric vehicle charging points- Using local contractors, and - Maximises the life of components, materials and energy efficiency measures to avoid unnecessary retrofit ahead of 2050.
• Assess the location of each development opportunity to ensure the location is sustainable and is built in a location where people want to live and work to reduce the reliance on carbon-intensive modes of transport
• Work with developers, registered providers and planning policy to develop greener housing standards for all new build developments in the New Forest
• Assess embodied carbon in the building processes on council led development sites by 2030,
• Where properties are acquired through off the shelf acquisitions or thorough the buyback scheme a minimum EPC rating of C will be required from April 2029.