The UK government has confirmed that solar panels will be required on the “vast majority” of new homes in England, as part of its push to cut energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will publish its Future Homes Standard paper this autumn, but has already announced that “solar panels will be included, leading to installation on the vast majority of new build homes.” This marks the first time that building regulations will be amended to explicitly promote solar energy, with exceptions only for properties in locations with persistent shading. According to the department, a typical home could save around £530 a year in energy costs under the current energy price cap with rooftop solar panels installed.

This policy shift also signals a political victory for energy secretary Ed Miliband, who has successfully retained a £13.2 billion fund to retrofit existing homes with green technologies.

Miliband commented: “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.”

Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook added: “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.”

Mark Wakeford, National Chairman of the National Federation of Builders, praised the announcement: “Solar panels on new homes make sense because they lower bills and progress the clean energy revolution we so desperately need. Credit must also be given for recent announcements on grid investment and connection reforms, as these were important challenges to recognise and solve for a rooftop revolution to happen in practice.”

In addition, the government revealed that the Boiler Upgrade Scheme saw a record 11,256 applicants in the first quarter of 2025, a 73% increase from the same period in 2024. The scheme offers households up to £7,500 off the cost of installing a heat pump, which can save around £100 a year when paired with a smart energy tariff.

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Source: Roger Baird, Mortgage Strategy