Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will change building regulations to ensure that all new buildings are constructed with solar panels.

There are no plans to change the Building Regulations to ensure that all new buildings are constructed with solar panels. Building Regulations are deliberately couched in performance terms and mandating a particular technology, such as solar panels, may not be appropriate for all new buildings in all areas.

The Government’s Clean Growth Strategy sets out that following the outcome of the independent review of Building Regulations and fire safety, and subject to its conclusions, it intends to consult on strengthening energy requirements in building regulations where there are cost-effective and affordable opportunities, and it is safe and practical to do so.