The government is set to mandate solar panels on the majority of new build homes in England under the forthcoming Future Homes Standard. Developers will be required to install panels unless specific exemptions apply, with the new regulations part of a strategy to cut emissions from housing. This includes improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps and insulation. However, the rollout of heat pumps could slow and become more costly if funding is reduced in the upcoming spending review. Grants of £7,500 are currently available through the boiler upgrade scheme to help households switch from gas boilers to electric heat pumps, but this funding is due to expire next year, with future budgets still unconfirmed. In response to this Clive Holland, broadcaster on Fix Radio, comments on how solar panels could provide a practical roadmap to help the government meet its net zero targets.

Alongside new building regulations, the government has committed to a £13.2 billion Warm Homes Plan to accelerate the adoption of green energy and insulation across existing homes. With heat pump installations lagging far behind targets, solar panels offer a more immediately scalable solution to reduce carbon emissions. Currently, only 40% of new homes include solar panels, but industry forecasts suggest this could increase to 90% under the proposed framework. Solar generation rose by 42% year-on-year between January and May 2025, demonstrating its growing contribution to the UK’s energy mix. As residential buildings account for 20% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, combining solar deployment with energy efficiency measures is key to cutting emissions and lowering household energy costs. 

In contrast, heat pump adoption remains slow. In 2023, the UK installed just 55,000 units – well below the government’s annual target of 600,000 by 2028 – and ranked 21st out of 27 EU countries for heat pump sales per capita. Around 85% of UK homes still rely on gas boilers, the highest share in Western Europe, underscoring the scale of the challenge in shifting to low-carbon heating. Compounding this, new home completions are forecast to average 167,000 annually over the next five years, significantly below the 300,000 needed to hit government housing targets by 2029. Planning delays, skills shortages, and supply chain issues continue to hinder progress, highlighting the need to maximise solar panel uptake as a more achievable route to decarbonising housing in the near term.

Clive Holland, broadcaster on Fix Radio – the UK’s national station for builders and tradespeople – discusses how housing initiatives can contribute to net zero goals.

“I have been asked this question for a few years now and had to fight battles with the pro-camp, manufacturers and those earning a pretty penny out of the installs and grants. After-all, due to the UK’s older housing stock, this is not a one-size fits all situation. The dream is sold currently on a £7,500 government grant and the expectation of reduced heating bills? 

“If you are currently reliant on gas central heating and in an older property, there is every possibility that will not be the case. To make matters worse, the homeowner has to stump up a minimum of an extra £5,000 before the install takes place. The real important factor here is the correct, detailed planning for each property.

“I realise that heat and ground pump geo-thermal systems have been around for over 30 years in other countries with a decent success rate. However, the properties in these countries were very advanced with regards to constructing properties with heat loss and U-values in mind.

“If the government is so sure heat pumps and solar energy are the future, then why aren’t they insisting that every new building property from this day forward has both installed?”

About Fix Radio:

Fix Radio, the Builders Station is the home of entertainment, music and information for UK tradespeople. Since 2017 the station has been built from the ground-up with tradespeople in mind, providing a mixture of authentic trade voices, up-beat music and a schedule designed around the tradesperson’s day.

The station’s schedule includes some of the biggest talent in the industry, including social media influencers the Bald Builders, Clive Holland of the BBC and formerly Cowboy Trap, the country’s most famous plasterer Chris Frediani from DIY SOS, plumbing influencer Andy Cam, electrician turned YouTuber Thomas Nagy, carpenter, craftsman and social media influencer Robin Clevett and TV presenter and builder, Mark Millar.

Broadcasting nationally on DAB since May 2022, Fix Radio has an average reach of 628,000 tradespeople each week. The Builders Station also boasts 27 average weekly listening hours. Fix Radio’s audience reach and listening hours are audited by Nielsen.