UK Government Confirms Rooftop Solar for All New Homes
New homes across the UK will soon come equipped with rooftop solar panels by default, as the government confirms a major step in its Plan for Change. The shift aims to reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions, and boost the nation’s energy security with clean, homegrown power.
Under the upcoming Future Homes Standard, set to be published this autumn, new-build properties will be required to feature solar panels and low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps. Homes will also meet higher energy efficiency standards, helping to future-proof them against rising costs and environmental pressures.
A typical UK household could save around £530 a year with rooftop solar, based on the current energy price cap — savings that will now start from day one for new homebuyers. The move comes as renewables supplied 51.5% of the UK’s electricity in 2024, with solar contributing 5.5% — a share expected to grow significantly in the years ahead.
Mandating rooftop solar on new homes will help scale up solar deployment nationwide, turning untapped rooftops into clean power sources. Ministers say the change will ease pressure on the grid, cut fossil fuel reliance, and strengthen the UK’s long-term energy security. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called the policy “common sense,” adding: “So many people just don’t understand why this doesn’t already happen. With our plans, it will.”
The upcoming regulations will include flexibility for shaded or unsuitable rooftops, but most new homes are expected to qualify. Ministers describe the move as a major step toward a cleaner, cheaper energy future — and the start of a rooftop revolution.