The Government has blocked the proposed New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill, which would have made it mandatory for all new homes to be built with solar panels from mid-2026
The Sunshine bill was due to have its second reading last Friday, but the opposition to it has caused it to be blocked.
The New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill was originally brought forward by Max Wilkinson of the Liberal Democrat party.
The bill would have required all new homes to be built with solar panels fitted
The Sunshine Bill would have come into effect from October 2026, requiring solar panels on all newly built houses, however, the costs that would be incurred to local authorities was deemed too high.
The costs would have been too much for both delivery and enforcement, with the required skills/labour and the design period being too much for the 2026 deadline.
Matthew Pennycook, the housing and planning minister, said that while the objectives of the bill were commendable, the Government already intends to “amend building regulations later this year as part of the introduction of future standards that will set more ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emissions requirements for new homes.
“The new standards will ensure that all new homes are future-proof, with low-carbon heating and very high-quality building fabric. Not only will they help us to deliver our commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, but they will reduce bills, tackle fuel poverty, grow skills, foster diverse job markets and make Britain energy secure.”
Pennycook further elaborated that the housing supply would also suffer, as redesigns would slow other projects down or possibly bring them to a halt altogether.
The National Federation of Builders agree with the choice to block the Sunshine Bill
Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight, NFB, said: “Matthew Pennycook correctly identified some of the main challenges faced, particularly the impact on smaller builders. His recognition of the practicable challenges is hugely valued, as there has been a tendency for previous governments to agree to something that resonated with the public and work out the details later. This rarely ends well.
“What wasn’t much discussed was the grid and this is perhaps the most important factor because it’s already difficult enough to get DNO’s to provide connections and infrastructure for heat pumps, let alone the works to feed electricity back to the grid. Who is going to buy a home without electricity, or with a temporary supply?
“When surveying NFB members, the problem is not the solar panels but the grid connections. Their costs, delays to get reinforcement works completed, lack of transparency and timeline for works, for example a date or even year when works will be completed are the main issues! There is also the cost of alternatives, such as batteries, which can make up more than 5% of a home’s sale price in some areas, even when the cheapest storage solution is chosen.
“The reality of delivery complexity is likely a great reason that public buildings were left off the Bill, rather than the cited cost to taxpayers.
“If we want solar on all buildings, we must ensure we can practicably achieve it. We therefore need an ‘Enabling the Sunshine Bill, Bill’ well before we mandate solar on all new builds through local or national regulations.”
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said: “The NFB has been at the forefront of highlighting the barriers to mandating solar panels on new builds, as well as identifying solutions so we can. Thankfully, the Government has recognised some of these and we hope they continue to engage on this topic and work with us on solutions.”
