The dates, plainly:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 24 March 2026 | The Future Homes Standard was laid and published (Approved Document L Volume 1, 2026 edition, England) |
| 4 March 2027 | The parallel Welsh regulations come into force |
| 24 March 2027 | FHS in force in England for building work that is not a higher-risk building |
| 24 September 2027 | FHS in force for higher-risk buildings |
| 24 March 2028 | The transitional cliff: dwellings not commenced by this date lose transitional protection |
The transitional rules — where plots get caught
A dwelling can complete under Part L 2021 only if both of these hold:
- its building notice, initial notice or full-plans application was submitted before 24 March 2027, and
- construction of that dwelling has commenced by 24 March 2028.
Two sharp edges to note:
- Protection is per individual dwelling, not per site. Submitting for a whole development does not shelter plots that have not started — each dwelling must itself commence in time.
- 'Commenced' has been tightened. Under Regulation 46A it now requires the ground-floor level structure to be in place — foundations alone no longer qualify.
The older transitional arrangements that let some large sites keep building to earlier standards are also sunsetted: those dwellings must likewise start by 24 March 2028.
Whichever side of the line a plot falls, the photographic evidence duty applies — it has been law since June 2022 (the current requirement) and the 2026 edition extends it (what changes).
Verified against primary sources 13 July 2026.
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