Out-Law News 1 min. read
New build solar panel announcement gives ‘welcome clarity’ to industry
Nathan Stirk/Getty Images: Developers should be aware of the solar panel announcement.
09 Jun 2025, 2:58 pm
The UK government’s announcement that new build residential property must have solar panels installed is important for reducing household energy costs and the pressure on the grid of the proposed 1.5 million planned new homes this parliament, an expert has said.
Siobhan Cross, property, climate and sustainability expert at Pinsent Masons, was commenting on the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announcement.
The confirmation, following delay since a consultation in March 2023, is aimed at slashing household energy bills and accelerating the UK’s transition to clean energy. The policy is part of the upcoming Future Homes Standard which the announcement confirms will be published in the autumn leading to regulations amending the existing Building Regulations.
Those regulations will mandate the inclusion of a specific amount of solar panel coverage on the “vast majority of newbuild homes subject to practical limits with flexibility in place for new homes surrounded by tress or lots of shade”.
The government estimates that a typical household could save around £530 a year by installing rooftop solar, based on current energy price caps. By integrating solar technology into new homes from the outset, the policy aims to deliver immediate savings to homeowners while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Previously, the former government consulted on options requiring new build homes to either have solar panel coverage equivalent to 40% of the building’s floor area or none at all. However, the announcement confirms the requirement will be for the 40% coverage or where developers are unable to meet this they should install a “reasonable amount” of solar panel coverage. The 2023 consultation proposed to exempt new residential blocks over 15 storeys high, given the limited roof space and generation benefits. There is no express mention of this in the announcement.
Alongside solar panels, the Future Homes Standard will require new builds to feature low-carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps, and high level of insulation and energy efficiency.
Cross said: “It is essential to have this clarity given the government’s plans for the number of new build homes over the next four years. The announcement provides a clear signal to supply chains of the need to scale up and to developers, noting the 2023 consultation proposed transitional provisions which would operate on an individual building rather than whole site basis.”
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