Insights
Practical guidance on the Future Homes Standard, grid strategy, PV export, and early-stage decision-making for UK housebuilders and developers.
A 349-home scheme shows why housebuilders should test whole-site demand, PV export, heat pump sizing, flexibility, and ownership before product assumptions become infrastructure decisions.
Not all electricity connection costs are fixed, and not all works must be carried out by the DNO. Housebuilders who understand contestable and non-contestable works can compare quotes properly and avoid overpaying.
Since April 2023, Ofgem Access SCR reforms changed how wider electricity reinforcement costs are charged. A site rejected for connection cost in 2021 may deserve a fresh feasibility review.
Over-cautious ADMD and kVA allowances add cost to every scheme. Evidence from HubbPro and Turley shows modern all-electric homes need far less simultaneous grid power than industry benchmarks assume.
A residential developer preparing a 318-unit phased scheme needed a credible solar PV export strategy for Future Homes Standard readiness. This case study shows why site-specific assessment beats broad assumptions.
Future Homes Standard adds real cost per plot. For UK housebuilders, the bigger risk is treating FHS, PV, heat pumps, EV charging, and grid connections as separate decisions.