Solar panels & heat pumps to be required in all new homes

Fahad Redha

March 25, 2026
3 min read

Solar panels & heat pumps to be required in all new homes

Solar panels and heat pumps will be required to be installed in all new homes in England, the government has announced as part of updates to the planning requirements. Plug-in panels that homeowners can self-install on balconies will soon be available to buy in supermarkets in the coming months, it added. The small versions of the tech, already deployed in some European countries, are not currently sold in the UK because of safety regulations.

For at least a decade, governments have worked to develop the Future Homes Standard, updates to how new homes in England are required to be designed. The latest guidance will mean that, as of 2028, no new home will be on the gas network and will instead have solar panels on the roof that covers an area equivalent to 40% of its ground flood pace.

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“The Iran war has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control,” said Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

The new changes have been welcomed by the energy sector and those working in green technology as they provide certainty that heat pumps and solar panels are worth investing in. The changes are expected to add around £10,000 to the cost of a home for developers, but the energy savings will mean that over the long term, they will be cheaper for homeowners.

The savings are even greater when a home has batteries, but these have not been made a requirement yet.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.