The Future Homes Hub reveals a report to prioritise net-zero construction

 Wednesday, December 10, 2025

The Future Homes Hub, a vital new tool for the UK construction industry in its joint endeavour to reach net zero, has revealed the Whole Life Carbon (WLC) Benchmarking Report for new low-rise houses.  Drawing on 48 detailed WLC assessments provided by 17 major homebuilders, the study establishes an unprecedented, robust, and industry-wide baseline for embodied carbon, finally providing the essential data needed to guide the sector’s crucial transition towards net zero.

“For the first time, we have a clear, data-driven picture of our collective starting point on whole life carbon,” said Adam Graveley, Head of Technical and Innovation at the Future Homes Hub. “This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about providing the tools and transparency our industry needs to set ambitious targets, make smarter design choices, and track meaningful progress.”

The report provides definitive, empirically grounded carbon intensity metrics for new low-rise homes, normalised by floor area (kgCO₂e/m²). These benchmarks now serve as the official starting line for measuring future decarbonisation progress:

• Average Upfront Embodied Carbon: 406 kg CO₂e/m²
• Average Whole-Life Embodied Carbon: 611 kg CO₂e/m²

These figures cover building-level impacts, providing a much-needed standardised measure derived from real-world project data.

The most significant and actionable finding for the construction supply chain confirms the long-held argument for biogenic materials: timber frame construction stands out as a key decarbonisation solution.

The comprehensive analysis shows that timber frame homes consistently deliver lower average upfront and whole-life embodied carbon compared to traditional masonry systems.

Key Carbon Reduction Differences:

This data strongly reinforces growing evidence, including findings from the Arup report for Defra, that wood offers one of the most effective and readily available pathways to lower-carbon new housing in the UK. Furthermore, the structural timber used in the build acts as a carbon store, locking away biogenic carbon for the life of the structure, providing an additional climate benefit that is a critical factor in WLC assessments.

The report also provided critical insights into the balance between upfront (materials, construction) and operational (heating, electricity) carbon. While the focus on the Future Homes Standard has been on operational emissions, the study highlights that Whole Life Carbon assessment is non-negotiable for achieving genuine decarbonisation.

A stark example provided in the analysis relates to heating systems:

• Homes utilising heat pumps had an average of 440 kg CO₂e/m² lower operational carbon impact over 60 years compared to gas boiler homes.
• However, homes with heat pumps showed 21 kg CO₂e/m² greater embodied carbon in their mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, primarily due to fugitive refrigerant emissions.

This contrast is a perfect illustration of why focusing on upfront carbon alone can lead to strategically flawed, long-term decisions. The low-carbon fabric and structure delivered by timber frame construction directly address the embodied carbon challenge, while superior thermal performance supports the reduction of operational carbon to meet the Future Homes Standard.

The Future Homes Hub has set out a clear roadmap for the industry’s next phase of decarbonisation, emphasizing the need for greater data accuracy and supply chain transparency.

Priority Next Steps:

1. Data Consistency and Accuracy: Improve data quality, particularly for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems, and better integrate factors of uncertainty (up to 15% in early stages) into assessments to ensure realistic benchmarks.
2. Expanded Measurement Scope: Develop robust methodologies to capture significant, but currently excluded, carbon impacts from site preparation and infrastructure.
3. Adoption of Product-Specific EPDs: Increase the widespread use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)—verified, product-specific data sheets—which the study showed can significantly reduce calculated embodied carbon values compared to using generic database defaults. Homebuilders are urged to demand these from their supply chains.
4. Supply Chain Mobilisation: Support manufacturers in bringing verified low-carbon materials, especially timber solutions, to market at scale, ensuring a robust and stable supply for the sector.

The forthcoming Embodied Carbon Implementation Board, which will bring industry and government stakeholders together, is expected to lead this next phase of the decarbonisation agenda, transitioning from voluntary benchmarking to defining potential future regulatory requirements.

The Hub’s report is a powerful mandate for designers, developers, and manufacturers across the UK to embrace wood as a core component of their low-carbon strategy, signaling that the time for full WLC integration into the design process is now.

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Tags: Decarbonisation Strategy, Embodied Carbon, Future Homes Hub, Net Zero Homes, sustainable construction, timber frame construction, UK Housebuilding