The government is giving builders and developers an extra six months to comply with stricter insulation requirements in new homes, which were due to come into force in November.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said the extension had been granted in recognition of existing pressure on the building sector due to Covid-19 and the current economic climate.
Its head of building and performance Dave Gittings said the extension had been made following a consultation that received more submissions than any Building Code consultation to date.
He said building owners, architects, suppliers and designers were generally in favour of keeping the November deadline.
However, builders and building consent authorities said due to the pressure on them, they would need more time.