New Build Heat Standard

Overview

The New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) requires new buildings to install climate-friendly heating systems instead of oil and gas boilers.

A temporary direction was introduced in September 2024 allowing bioenergy, including wood-burners, and peat-burning systems to be installed in new homes. This does not apply to non-domestic buildings. 

Proposed changes to the NBHS

Following a review, we are proposing changes to the NBHS regulations.

These changes would mean that bioenergy heating systems like wood burners, and peat-burning systems can:

• be installed in all new homes and buildings – putting temporary arrangements into law and expanding them to apply to all buildings
• continue to be used in existing buildings being converted and captured by this Standard

The proposed changes will also allow any type of secondary heating in new buildings.

It will remain the case that fossil fuel gas and oil boilers cannot be used as a mains heating system in new-build homes and buildings.

Timescales

The above proposals are not yet law and need to complete the parliamentary process before they come into force. The changes were proposed on 8 November 2024 and the parliamentary committee in charge of the legislation has 40 days to look at them. If agreed, we have proposed these changes come into force on 1 January 2025.

Find out more about the NBHS as it currently stands, as well as our proposed changes in the different sections.

Why we have the NBHS 

Heating Scotland’s homes and buildings is one of the biggest contributors to our carbon emissions. The NBHS helps ensure new buildings do not contribute to this. 

NBHS is part of our wider Heat in Buildings Strategy.