New homes built in the UK will soon be required to include rooftop solar panels by default, under updated regulations set to be published in the autumn as part of the Future Homes Standard.
The announcement today marks a significant shift in building policy aimed at reducing household energy costs and promoting cleaner energy use.
The Government said the inclusion of solar panels on new builds will reduce energy bills for future homeowners, with ministers citing potential savings of around £530 a year based on the current energy price cap.
The Future Homes Standard will also mandate low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps, and higher energy efficiency standards for all new housing.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “Solar panels can save people hundreds of pounds off their energy bills, so it is just common sense for new homes to have them fitted as standard.
“So many people just don’t understand why this doesn’t already happen. With our plans, it will.”
He added: “Today marks a monumental step in unleashing this rooftop revolution as part of our Plan for Change, and means new homeowners will get lower bills with clean home-grown power.”
The Government confirmed that solar panels will be expected on the “vast majority” of new build properties, with flexibility for homes affected by shading or surrounding trees. T
he proposed changes will amend building regulations to promote solar energy more explicitly for the first time.
Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Recent planning reforms are also expected to simplify the installation of heat pumps, removing the need for planning permission in cases where the unit is within one metre of a property boundary.
The change comes amid data from energy supplier Octopus indicating that 34% of prospective heat pump customers are deterred by planning requirements.
Figures show that applications to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme rose by 73% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
The scheme offers households grants of up to £7,500 to help cover the cost of installing a heat pump.
The government says these combined measures are intended to reduce the cost of living for families, improve energy resilience, and contribute to the country’s broader climate goals.
The full Future Homes Standard is expected to be published later this year.
