Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ The British government is facing mounting pressure to mandate solar panels on all new homes amid growing public outcry and warnings from environmental groups, local authorities, and energy experts. The Local Government Association (LGA), in a recent report, branded the absence of solar panels on newly built homes an “absolute scandal” and called for urgent legislative change.
Just 40% of new homes in England are currently fitted with solar panels, according to industry body Solar Energy UK—a significant threefold increase over the past year, but still far from enough to meet the UK’s climate goals. The LGA argues that requiring solar panels on all new builds could save households an average of £440 per year in energy costs while substantially cutting carbon emissions.
Behind Europe : Solar Standards
The UK’s lagging policy contrasts starkly with its European neighbors. In 2023, the European Union passed legislation requiring that all new residential buildings be equipped with solar panels from 2030 onward— a major push toward decarbonizing the building sector. Greenpeace UK echoed this sentiment in scathing terms.
“It’s an absolute scandal that homes are being built without rooftop solar panels in this day and age,” said Lily Rose Ellis, a campaigner for Greenpeace. “With the rising cost of electricity, and the relatively low cost of installing solar panels during construction, it’s indefensible that they’re not already mandatory.”
Solar panel systems are far more cost-effective when installed during construction rather than retrofitted later. With the escalating climate crisis, activists argue that this missed opportunity benefits housebuilders more than the public or the planet.
Labour’s Rooftop Revolution: Wavering on Delivery?
Last year, the Labour Party pledged to launch a “rooftop revolution” that would see millions of homes outfitted with solar panels. However, critics say Labour’s position appears to have softened as it courts the housing industry to meet its ambitious target of building 1.5 million homes during the current parliamentary term.
Balancing climate ambition with the interests of developers is proving politically complex. Solar requirements could raise construction costs slightly, but supporters argue these would be offset by long-term savings for homeowners and tenants, not to mention the environmental gains.
The LGA has called for long-term funding commitments in the government’s upcoming spending review, enabling councils to support net-zero housing and other sustainable infrastructure.
Government Response: Future Home Standards Are Still Pending
The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government said in a statement that it intends to “maximise the installation of solar panels on new homes” through upcoming building regulations. Expected later this year, these long-awaited updates under the Future Homes Standard have already experienced delays.
Meanwhile, the Home Builders Federation acknowledged that solar panels will become increasingly common, but cautioned they are “not appropriate in every situation,” leaving the door open to exceptions.
Clean Energy Push vs. Infrastructure Costs
The solar debate forms part of the UK’s wider push to decarbonize electricity by 2030. As the nation transitions to electric vehicles and low-carbon heating systems, energy demand is soaring. New wind and solar farms, especially offshore in the North Sea, will need over 1,000 kilometers of new cabling to transmit electricity to urban centers across the UK.
However, regions like East Anglia are experiencing tension over whether to install those cables overhead on pylons or buried underground. Protecting scenic views has led to demands for underground cabling, but a new report by the Institution of Engineering and Technology finds that burying cables is on average 4.5 times pricier than using overhead lines.
Liam Hardy of the Green Alliance think tank warned that those infrastructure costs will trickle down to consumers. “The poorest in society will end up paying proportionally more. What people want is value for money as we build the clean energy future.”
To soften the impact on communities affected by new pylons, the government has pledged compensation: households living near new high-voltage lines could receive £2,500 off their energy bills spread over ten years.
What’s Next?
With climate deadlines looming, solar energy advocates say inaction is no longer an option. Whether it’s panels on rooftops or cables through countryside fields, the decisions made in the coming months will shape not only the UK’s energy bills but also its environmental legacy.
