24.03.2026
The Government has today announced new measures to accelerate clean, homegrown power, including low‑cost plug‑in solar panels available in UK shops within months, alongside updates to the Future Homes Standard that will strengthen renewable energy requirements for new homes. Read on for more details...
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The Government has today announced a major step forward in delivering clean, homegrown power across England — confirming that low‑cost “plug‑in” solar panels will be available in UK shops within months. These self‑install systems, already widely used across Europe, allow households to generate their own electricity simply by plugging them into a standard mains socket.
The move forms part of a broader national drive to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on volatile global fossil fuel markets, and bring down household energy bills. The announcement also sits alongside the latest update to the Future Homes Standard, with far‑reaching implications for the design of new homes.
The Government is working with major retailers, including Lidl and Amazon, as well as manufacturers such as EcoFlow, to bring plug‑in solar devices to the UK market. These panels — sometimes called “balcony solar” — are small, affordable, and can be installed by residents without specialist contractors.
Widely deployed in Germany, where around 500,000 new units are installed annually, plug‑in solar systems allow households to reduce grid electricity use and trim energy bills without the cost or complexity of a full roof‑mounted solar array.
The announcement also reinforces key parts of the Future Homes Standard, confirming that from 2028:
The Government states that this will provide certainty to the supply chain and accelerate the rollout of clean technologies across the development sector.
While developers may face additional upfront costs, homes built to these standards are expected to offer significantly lower energy bills for residents, and greater long‑term resilience against market shocks.
The policy direction is now clear: solar generation and low‑carbon heating are becoming a non‑negotiable part of new development.
Applicants should expect:
For landowners promoting sites through Local Plans, demonstrating capacity for on‑site renewables may become a material advantage.
With regard to transitionary arrangements the Government states:
"We intend that the Future Homes and Buildings Standards will come into force on 24 March 2027, for non-HRB work, 12 months after the required regulations are laid in Parliament, followed by a 12-month transition period. For such building work to be completed to the previous version of Part L, relevant documents (initial notice, building notice, application with full plans) will need to have been submitted to the relevant authority by 24 March 2027 and construction will need to commence on the relevant building by 24 March 2028, unless other transitional provisions apply. "
In practice, this means the new Future Homes and Buildings Standards will apply from 24 March 2027, with a 12‑month transition period. To continue using the current version of Part L, developers will need to submit the relevant Building Regulations application by 24 March 2027 and must have commenced construction on the specific building (not just the wider site) by 24 March 2028, unless other transitional provisions apply.
DHA Planning advises developers, landowners and homeowners on navigating the rapidly evolving planning and regulatory environment around renewable energy and sustainable construction.
Our team can support with:
If you would like to understand how these changes may affect your project or portfolio, please get in touch with our team.
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