This guide is intended for housebuilders, designers and others involved in the development of new homes in England. It uses examples of possible solutions for typical house types to help explain the main changes to Approved Document L (ADL 2021) it introduces the technologies and techniques which should be considered and describes the new evidence requirements for demonstrating compliance.
The changes to these regulations, which came into force in June 2022, are the first for eight years, but they will be followed by another round of significant changes in 2025.
The transitional arrangements for ADL 2021 only apply to homes where building work has commenced on each individual plot before 15th June 2023. This is significant as previous ADL changes could be avoided if work had started on a site. With ADL 2021 the new regulations apply to any plots that have not started.
The new regulations will encourage good low-energy design, improving both the fabric and services, to make homes more comfortable to live in, reduce running costs and drive down carbon emissions whilst also future proofing the home. Energy modelling of a typical semi-detached home suggests a saving of circa £170 – £370 per year on heating and hot water costs, compared with the same home built to 2013 regulations.
Photographic evidence
The 2021 revision to part L of the building regulations introduced a new requirement to provide photographic evidence and an ‘as built’ BREL report to the building control body and the building owner to show that the building work complies with energy efficiency requirements.
The Future Homes Hub has created an example report for a typical house to help developers to understand the type and number of photographs needed.
Note: This is only a general guide and there is no obligation to adopt any of the options given. You should always check with the Building Control Body that your proposals comply with all the requirements of the Building Regulations.
Click here to find out more about the Future Homes Hub’s work on building regulations.