From improved comfort and health to smart technologies, better air quality, lower energy bills, and greater energy security, the transition to net zero offers the unmissable chance to deliver even better homes for people and the environment alike. And all of this whilst potentially kickstarting a material economic opportunity for the UK.

Yet we find ourselves at another challenging moment, with anti-net zero rhetoric and a push-back on sustainability policies gathering momentum around the world.

A case of déjà vu if ever there was one.

Here in the UK, the government has rightly prioritised the urgent need to build 1.5 million homes and to streamline the planning process, but we must not lose sight of the many benefits of decarbonising the way we power, design, and live in our homes over the long-term.

And we know the government intends to introduce the Future Homes Standard (FHS) later this year – a positive step. But beyond that, the policy horizon is unclear. Getting to net zero is complex. It involves deep shifts in planning, land pricing, home design, innovation, supply chain development, skills and training. The industry needs a clear and predictable timetable to manage this complexity effectively and invest with confidence.

That’s why the introduction of the Net Zero Transition Plan for the new homes sector is so significant. Developed collaboratively by industry, government, partners, and the supply chain, this plan outlines a long-term pathway to guide the sector through the whole of the transition.

The Transition Plan, supported by good regulation like the Future Homes Standard, provides precisely the kind of certainty that homebuilders need.

But no single company can achieve this transition alone. It requires a coordinated effort:

• Cross-sector collaboration, through the Hub and groups like the Net Zero Council, will align strategies and ensure that individual efforts create a meaningful national shift.
• Government partnership is essential to establish the regulatory foundations that ensure consistency and certainty nationwide.
• Shared research and demonstrator projects, pooling research and findings on design, materials and technology will help accelerate innovation.
• Joint planning with the supply chain and skills providers will ensure the workforce is ready for the future.
• Unified measurement and tracking will keep the plan current and responsive to change.



The Net Zero Transition Plan marks the beginning of this journey. It’s a living framework, one that will evolve, adapt, and strengthen over time. With 35 of the country’s largest and a cross section of medium and smaller homebuilders committed to reducing emissions in line with the plan, now is the time for the whole industry to engage and align clean growth pathways and solutions with the transition plan and shape the future of homebuilding in the UK. Together, we can build homes that are fit for a sustainable future.