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Written question asked by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 July 2026. It was answered by Samantha Dixon (Labour) on Friday, 17 July 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Housing: Construction

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether delivering 1.5 million new homes will require changes to overheating standards within Building Regulations.

Answer

Part O of the Building Regulations came into force in June 2022 and requires new residential buildings to be built to mitigate the risk of overheating. Part O encourages passive design measures, such as limiting solar gain and enabling heat to be removed by natural ventilation, before relying on mechanical systems. The government also recently consulted on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including proposing to set out clearly that the design of developments should minimise risks from climate change, including overheating, as well as promoting street trees to help provide external shade. We will publish our response to that consultation in due course.

The government is committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. Increasing housing delivery and improving the safety and quality of new homes are not mutually exclusive. With good planning and smart design, we can build the high-quality homes we need while making sure they are prepared for a changing climate.

The government keeps the Building Regulations under review. The Building Safety Regulator is currently undertaking a technical review of Part O to consider whether changes are necessary to ensure it is effective and proportionate.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
18608
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Construction Building regulations Housing Temperature
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk