Overview

• The 12-week Defra consultation proposes amending Building Regulations Part G2 to require efficiency measures in new-build homes.
• Suggested fittings include aerated taps and showerheads plus dual-flush toilets, which officials say deliver savings without noticeable loss of performance.
• Defra analysis estimates about 20 litres saved per person per day and roughly £111 a year off energy and water bills for households in new homes.
• The government says the reduced demand could unlock development, projecting 1,000 additional homes for every 5,250 built to the new standard, with past blockages seen in Cambridge and north Sussex.
• A parallel call for evidence explores options such as rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing, as industry groups welcomed the plans and urged action on retrofits, leakage and wider infrastructure.