Fit all new homes with solar panels to slash energy bills by hundreds, government told

Councils in England have joined the growing calls for all new homes to be fitted with solar panels as standard in a bid to slash energy bills and meet climate change targets.

The Local Government Association (LGA) made the plea on Tuesday (29 April), arguing that the move would save residents an estimated £440 a year on energy bills.

Currently, 60% of new homes built do not have rooftop solar panels, with 40% having them installed, the LGA said.

Councillors released a new report laying out the benefits of increasing retrofitting as well as finance and legislative changes to ramp up the amount of solar panels on new homes.

They called for the government to give cash-strapped councils the funds to take action to meet net zero targets at June’s spending review.

Councillor Adam Hug, environment spokesperson for the LGA, said:  “This report sets out what councils can achieve and how to do it, if the government is able to back them with the powers and funding to turn this into a reality.

 “Councils are ready to go further and faster on climate action – but we need a plan that works in partnership with local government. However, the funding or policies needed to empower them to help fully realise this ambition are not yet in place.  

“The government should use the spending review to ensure that councils are sufficiently funded, and take on the policy recommendations that will help local government fulfil its role in tackling climate change.”  

Councillors are the latest campaigners to call for solar panels to be installed on all new homes.

The New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill – a private members bill tabled by Liberal Democrat Max Wilkinson and dubbed the ‘Sunshine Bill’ – was looking to do just that but was recently rejected by MPs.

Wilkinson told Big Issue: “Installing solar panels on all new homes is an obvious thing to do. It’s good for the environment and it’ll lower bills too. Solar panels on all new homes is also really popular with the public – it’s backed by a majority of voters for all parties. The previous government dragged its feet on the issue and in response to the Sunshine Bill ministers assured me they’re looking to make the change soon. That change can’t come soon enough.”

Some campaigners even recently installed solar panels on tiny homes in a model village in a bid to make the case for the move.

Now the LGA has said councils are central to delivering on the government’s ambition to “become a clean energy superpower” and reaching net zero.

Research from the Resolution Foundation think tank found the government’s bid to triple solar capacity by the end of the decade could end up saving households £440 a year on bills through a ‘rooftop revolution’ of ramping up the installation of panels.

Poorer households have the most to gain from lower bills but are currently the least able to access solar panels due to the cost of installation. 

Researchers found in 2015 there were more solar panels installed in the poorest third of areas than the richest but twice as many panels went to the richest places by 2023.

But homebuilders said that a requirement for all new homes to be fitted with solar panels would be going too far.

Steve Turner, executive director of the Home Builders Federation told the Big Issue: “New build homes emit on average a third of the carbon of an older property, saving owners thousands of pounds in energy bills.

“Solar is increasingly being used to deliver savings in response to customer demand and the requirements of affordable housing providers and local authorities.

“Moving forward, to meet the ever more challenging carbon reductions set by government we will see solar on the overwhelming majority of new homes, albeit it is not appropriate in every situation.”  

Councillors have called for the government to give them more cash to decarbonise housing by 2050, reform the energy system, expand clean power by the end of the decade and protect nature.

Legislative changes to give councils more powers to set climate targets, a green skills strategy to boost green jobs and a shift to multi-year, outcome-focused funding to unlock private sector involvement would also help councils go greener, the report said.

Will Walker, UK Policy Lead for climate solutions charity Ashden said: “Councils and communities are already leading the charge — but they need the funding and support from government to match their ambition. Solar panels on every new home should be the rule not the exception as they will cut bills, slash carbon, power up the clean energy economy.

“The benefits to people and communities of local climate action are clear – from warmer homes and resilient schools to thriving wildlife, restored landscapes, and hands-on careers that are built for people, not machines. Ashden stands with the LGA’s call for urgent action — the spending review must put serious investment behind councils and communities, backed with key policy reforms to drive a faster, fairer transition.”

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