UK Government to Mandate Solar Panels on All New Homes in England by 2027

In a bold move, the UK Government is set to make solar panels a standard feature in nearly all new homes within the next two years. The proposal has garnered attention, signalling an ambitious step toward sustainable living as Downing Street pushes to incorporate solar technology into as many properties as possible. Speculation is rife that this initiative could evolve into a mandatory requirement for new builds by 2027.

Though installing solar panels on new homes would add between £3,000 and £4,000 to construction costs, the Government argues that homeowners save over £1,000 annually on their energy bills. This green shift comes in the wake of a heated political debate, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer defending the Government’s clean power agenda. His remarks came in response to criticism from his predecessor, Sir Tony Blair, who had dismissed the Government’s strategy of limiting fossil fuels, calling it “doomed to fail.”

Asked on Thursday whether housebuilders would be legally required to fit the panels, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “Of course, we want to see solar panels on as many new homes as possible.

“The Future Homes Standard, which will be published in the coming months, will include measures to drive this. We’re working on the details of that and will provide an update on that in due course.

“But it’s good news for householders who want lower energy bills.”

Political opponents swiftly seized on Blair’s comments, suggesting they were an indirect critique of Starmer’s ambitious plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In an unusual turn, the Tony Blair Institute was forced to clarify that Blair fully supports the Government’s climate targets.

Downing Street also responded, rejecting Blair’s claims that “hysteria” was influencing global climate discussions. The government's message was that it was taking a “very practical and pragmatic approach” to tackling emissions.

This policy is further fueled by growing calls from councils, urging the Government to enforce solar panel installation on all new builds to help meet climate goals and lower household energy costs. Around 60% of new homes are built without solar panels, but making them a mandatory inclusion could drastically boost the UK’s clean energy output and ease the burden on residents’ bills. According to the Local Government Association, this change is critical for achieving a sustainable future.

The new plan will require that 80% of new homes be equipped with solar panels covering at least 40% of the property’s ground area. Exemptions will apply to the remaining 19% of homes, typically due to factors such as roof pitch and shading. Interestingly, ministers rejected a similar proposal last year, which would have mandated the installation of solar panels on every new home. They argued that it would slow down construction and significantly increase costs for housebuilders.

Meanwhile, Labour’s manifesto includes a pledge to build 1.5 million new homes during the current parliamentary term, emphasizing the party's focus on housing and sustainable development.

Asked how the plans would be balanced against the Government’s push to cut red tape and speed up planning, a Number 10 spokesman said: “Industry has been consulted on the plans that will have time to adapt once the Future Homes Standard, which is to be published in the coming months comes into force.

“We must balance any increase in the cost of business against benefits that solar panels will bring in, cutting bills for families and boosting our national energy security to get Putin’s boot off our neck.”