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Working in partnership with HubbPro, we have combined real-world development experience with advanced data modelling to show how today’s all-electric homes perform – and how smarter design could transform the way we build and power new communities.
The Future Homes Standard will make all new homes in England fully electric, powered by heat pumps, and equipped with solar panels and electric vehicle chargers. Up to now, consultants have had to estimate electricity demand for these new homes based on limited data. This has led to cautious assumptions, which while understandable, have resulted in higher grid connection costs and longer delivery times.
But, today’s energy-efficient homes – with smart technologies that balance and store power – simply don’t need as much electricity at any one time as has been estimated.
Using HubbPro’s advanced predictive tool, which draws on live performance data and machine learning, the study found that the average modern home needs around 35% less grid power than even the lowest industry standards assume. In practice, that means a typical local substation – the kind found in most neighbourhoods – could power over 500 new homes instead of around 350.
The findings suggest the UK could build two to three times more homes using the grid we already have, while cutting connection costs and speeding up delivery. It could also mean smaller, cheaper and faster grid upgrades as older homes switch to low-carbon heating and transport.
The implications reach beyond new developments. As older homes are retrofitted with low-carbon technologies, the research indicates that grid upgrades will be smaller, cheaper and faster, helping accelerate the UK’s move toward a net-zero housing stock.
Barny Evans, Sustainability and ESG Director, said:
“What this really shows is that we’ve been designing for the past, not the future. The way people live and use energy in modern homes is changing fast – heating systems are smarter, appliances are more efficient, and residents are more aware of how to manage their energy use. HubbPro’s data gives us confidence that we can build more homes without waiting years for grid upgrades. It’s about being smarter, not bigger, when it comes to energy planning.”
James Major, Founder of HubbPro, added:
“Developers and local networks have long worked with rules of thumb that simply don’t match how homes perform today. Our data proves that by using real-world evidence, we can right-size connections, save millions on unnecessary infrastructure and make clean, affordable energy a reality for more people. It’s a practical step forward that helps both housebuilders and homeowners.”
For more information, please get in touch with Barny Evans.
17 November 2025
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