Understanding why new homes often underperform in use and how a Quality Assurance pathway could help close the performance gap and deliver better homes in Wales.
Summary
New homes in Wales frequently use more energy than predicted, leading to higher bills, discomfort, condensation and mould. This “performance gap” is preventable through better design, construction and verification.
The report examines the causes of the gap and proposes a clear six-stage Quality Assurance (QA) pathway with measurable benchmarks at design stage, verification during construction, and checks for real performance once homes are occupied. The importance of Building Performance Evaluation is highlighted along with the pathway’s application to the Tai ar y Cyd project and its relevance to wider housing delivery. In doing so, it outlines how this approach can enable a shift from simple compliance to evidence-based confidence in housing quality. The report provides practical recommendations to support housing providers in delivering homes that perform as intended: improving comfort, reducing carbon emissions, and reducing long-term costs.
