Overview

• Defra opened a consultation to amend Building Regulations Part G2 so new homes include water‑efficient fittings such as aerated taps and showerheads and dual‑flush toilets.
• Government analysis estimates the measures would reduce consumption by about 20 litres per person per day and save around £111 a year on bills in new‑build properties.
• The proposals are intended to ease housing constraints in places like Cambridge and north Sussex, with modelling suggesting roughly 1,000 extra homes for every 5,250 built to the new standard.
• Ministers are seeking evidence on additional options, including rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing, and are considering tighter local rules in high‑stress regions.
• Officials say the plan responds to seven months of below‑average rainfall and five drought areas, cuts abstraction from rivers and chalk streams, and supports the pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes by 2030.