The UK government has confirmed that new build homes will be mandated to include solar panels, potentially saving homeowners £530 ($719.14) annually on energy bills, based on current energy price caps.
The initiative is part of its proposed Future Homes Standard, to be published in autumn 2025.
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The new proposals seek to alleviate the cost of living for young families and new house buyers, while also enhancing the nation’s energy security.
The solar panels will be a default feature for the majority of new build homes.
The Future Homes Standard will require new homes to adopt low-carbon heating solutions, such as heat pumps and heat networks, and achieve high levels of energy efficiency.
These measures align with the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change and are designed to cut energy bills and foster a transition to clean, domestically produced power.
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By GlobalDataUK Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook stated: “As part of the government’s Plan for Change to build 1.5 million homes, we are maximising the use of renewable energy to cut people’s bills and power their homes.
“The Future Homes Standard will ensure new homes are modern and efficient with low-carbon heating, while our common sense planning changes will now make it easier and cheaper for people to use heat pumps and switch to EVs so they can play their part in bolstering our nation’s energy security.”
The Future Homes Standard will see building regulations amended to promote solar energy, with allowances for practical limitations such as shading from trees. This flexibility ensures that solar power is a viable option for as many new homes as possible.
Recent legislation has further facilitated the adoption of clean energy by allowing homeowners to install heat pumps within one metre of their property boundary without a planning application.
Data from British renewable energy company Octopus Energy indicates that 34% of potential heat pump customers are discouraged or abandon their plans due to planning application requirements. The new legislation is anticipated to encourage more families to make the switch to renewable energy.
Heat Pump Association CEO Charlotte Lee stated: “This announcement provides a clear signal to the heat pump sector to scale up delivery in terms of workforce and manufacturing to meet the anticipated growth in the market and demonstrates the government’s commitment to decarbonise buildings.”
The first quarter of 2025 saw a surge in applications to the boiler upgrade scheme, with a 73% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The scheme offers households up to £7,500 off the cost of a heat pump, which can lead to an additional £100 annual saving when using a smart tariff effectively.
