Why is the Government consulting on water efficiency standards?

On 23^rd September 2025, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs opened a consultation seeking public opinion on a proposal to improve water efficiency standards in new housing developments by amending the Building Regulations 2010.

The consultation includes an option to revise:

• The mandatory water efficiency standard in new homes from 125 litres per person per day to 105 litres per person per day
• The optional technical standard from 110 litres per person per day to 100 litres per person per day: the optional standard is a more ambitious target that a Local Planning Authority can enforce it if there is a demonstrable local need.

Water scarcity concerns can be a great hinderance to potential development and developers already need to consider implementing water demand management measures in their projects. This was demonstrated in September 2021 when Natural England advised that proposed development schemes within the Sussex North Water Supply Zone should demonstrate water neutrality due to existing water abstraction having a potentially adverse effect on the Arun Valley Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area and Ramsar sites.

Water neutrality means that water usage in the supply zone following development is equal to or less than usage prior to said development. We are seeing more and more case law showing that the Courts will not overrule planning requirements for water neutrality.

The  need to save water has seen planning applications stalled in North Sussex and also in Cambridge where water demand also outstripped supply.

This new government consultation and request for evidence of innovative water reuse systems shows that the government is taking seriously its commitment to reducing water usage by 20% by 31 March 2038 and in the government’s own words, support a wave of new housing across Britain.

If you have any questions, our Real Estate team would be happy to help.