The London residential construction market is on the cusp of a significant transformation. With the Government’s Future Homes Standard expected to be published imminently, the way we build, and manage, is about to change. For London’s residential builders, already navigating a complex landscape of rising costs and a persistent skills shortage, these new regulations present both a challenge and an opportunity. The key to success will lie not just in understanding the new rules, but in fundamentally rethinking how we manage projects and communicate with our teams.
The Future Homes Standard is a set of new regulations designed to ensure that new homes built from 2025 onwards will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes built under the current building regulations. The headline change is the move away from gas boilers, with new homes requiring low-carbon heating systems like heat pumps. But the changes go much deeper than that.
Builders will face a significant increase in the complexity of their projects. The new regulations will require more detailed calculations, more rigorous documentation, and a higher level of coordination between trades. As Paul Kennington, Technical Director at VEKA plc, recently highlighted, the industry will face “more calculations, more documentation and more responsibility” 1.
This isn’t just about ticking a few extra boxes. The new standards will require a holistic approach to building design and construction, with every element from the windows to the heating system needing to be carefully considered and documented. For many builders, this will be a significant step up in terms of project management complexity.
One of the biggest challenges of the Future Homes Standard will be managing the increased documentation requirements. With more complex calculations and a greater need for evidence of compliance, the risk of errors and miscommunication will be higher than ever. Relying on a fragmented system of emails, WhatsApp messages, and phone calls is a recipe for disaster.
Imagine this scenario: the architect sends an updated window specification to the site manager via email. The site manager is busy and doesn’t see the email until the end of the day. In the meantime, the window fabricator, working off an older version of the plans they received via WhatsApp, has already started production. The result? A costly mistake that could have been easily avoided with a centralised communication system.
This is the kind of problem that costs the UK construction industry an estimated 11% of its project budgets, a figure that is likely to rise with the introduction of the Future Homes Standard. Our own research has shown that poor communication is a major drain on construction projects, leading to delays, rework, and a significant impact on the bottom line. You can read more about this in our blog post, The Hidden 11% Cost: How Poor Communication Between Trades Is Destroying Your Construction Budget.
Forward-thinking London builders are already looking for ways to get ahead of the curve. They understand that the Future Homes Standard will require a more professional and organised approach to project management. They are investing in new technologies and processes to help them manage the increased complexity and reduce the risk of errors.
One such builder is Bonchurch BC, a London-based construction company that has recently started using BRCKS to manage its projects. They have found that by centralising their communication and documentation, they have been able to save a significant amount of time and money. In fact, they estimate that BRCKS is saving their management and maintenance divisions one hour per day, each.
This is a powerful example of how the right tools can help builders to not just survive, but thrive, in the face of new challenges. By embracing new ways of working, builders like Bonchurch BC are positioning themselves for success in the new era of construction.
The cost of poor communication is always high, but it is particularly damaging during periods of regulatory change. When new rules are introduced, there is always a period of uncertainty and adjustment. If communication is not clear and consistent, it can lead to confusion, mistakes, and costly delays.
For medium-sized builders, the challenge is even greater. As we discussed in our blog post, The Hidden Trap Facing Medium-Sized London Builders: Why Your Communication System Breaks at 5 Projects, the communication systems that work for a small number of projects can quickly become overwhelmed as a company grows. The Future Homes Standard will only exacerbate this problem.
In this new environment, centralised project management is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. Builders need a single source of truth for all project information, from the latest plans and specifications to the daily progress reports from site. This is the only way to ensure that everyone is working off the same page and that costly mistakes are avoided.
While there are a number of construction project management software solutions on the market, many of them are not well-suited to the needs of medium-sized residential builders in the UK. Solutions like Procore are often too expensive and complex, while others like Fieldwire and Coconstruct are more focused on the US market and don’t offer the specific features needed to manage UK building regulations.
BRCKS is different. It has been designed from the ground up to meet the specific needs of UK residential builders. It provides a simple, affordable, and powerful solution for managing projects, from the initial design phase through to completion. With BRCKS, you can centralise all your project communication and documentation, ensuring that everyone on your team has access to the information they need, when they need it.
BRCKS is more than just a project management tool – it’s a complete communication platform for construction. It brings together all the features you need to manage your projects effectively, including:
•Centralised document management: Store all your project documents in one place, so everyone is working off the latest version.
•Real-time communication: Communicate with your team in real-time, with dedicated channels for each project.
•Task management: Assign tasks to team members and track their progress.
•Photo and video sharing: Share photos and videos from site to keep everyone up to date.
By using BRCKS, you can streamline your project management processes, reduce the risk of errors, and ensure that you are fully compliant with the new Future Homes Standard.
•The Hidden 11% Cost: How Poor Communication Between Trades Is Destroying Your Construction Budget
•Navigating the Dip: Why Smarter Communication is Key for London’s Residential Builders
BRCKS is currently in beta and we are inviting a limited number of forward-thinking construction companies to join our early access programme. If you would like to learn more about how BRCKS can help you to prepare for the Future Homes Standard and transform your project management processes, please visit our website at www.brcks.io.
[1] FUTURE HOMES STANDARD: WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE INDUSTRY - Glass News
