Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to include solar panels as a default requirement in the Future Homes Standard.

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) was published on 24 March 2026.

The Future Homes Standard will require new homes to achieve very low carbon emissions and high levels of energy efficiency. Although the FHS is performance based, and does not mandate specific technologies, we expect that in most cases, the requirements will be met through the installation of rooftop solar panels, subject to practical constraints such as site conditions. We expect the majority of new homes to include solar, helping to save families hundreds of pounds a year, while also strengthening energy security by reducing families’ exposure to international gas markets.

Electric vehicle charging points are already required for new residential buildings with parking spaces under existing Building Regulations introduced in 2021, and this requirement will continue to apply.