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The research conducted by the government revealed that high temperatures during summer which affect London more than any other city in the UK are particularly responsible for overheating in houses, a problem that will only increase with global warming.

The new draft regulations that new residential homes in London that are fitted with windows on opposite facades will not be able to have a window area greater than 13% of the floor area as opposed to residential homes built elsewhere outside of London that will be allowed to have a window area of up to 21% of the floor area.

It will also be compulsory for homes in London to be built with external shutters, overhangs or high-performance dollar control glass on the south, east and west elevations of a development to further control heat absorption and overheating.  Other forms of shade control such as internal blinds or nearby trees will not count towards solar shading.

Another method of preventing heat absorption will be to include an unrestricted ventilation area equivalent or greater than the window area which also must be designed to open to a minimum of 60 degrees although there will be new minimum window threshold heights to prevent the risk of accidents.

In situations where a development is heavily shaded by landscape features or other properties that are next to it, some flexibility will be given to developers who will able to use dynamic thermal modelling as an alternative to prescriptive window sizes and solar shading.

The research conducted by the government suggests that these measures should save developers money as it is cheaper to build solid walls than install glazing and estimate that these savings could amount to £5,147 on the cost of building an average home.

The new overheating regulation is yet to be assigned a letter, however the new proposals are part of a consultation which is open until April 13^th on changes to Regulations L and F which relate to controlling energy and ventilation.