The Government stated that it will publish the Future Homes Standard in the autumn, according to the UK Solar Roadmap published in June 2025 by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero1. The Roadmap, which sets out the final conclusions of the UK Solar Taskforce, records the commitment in its account of the standards that will govern newbuild homes1. The same document states that the Government will push ahead with installing solar on as many newbuild homes as possible through the Future Homes Standard1.
The Roadmap gives no further detail on the content of the standard, the exact publication date within the autumn, or the consultation that would precede it. A distributor summary of the Roadmap states that the standard "requires all new homes from autumn 2025" to be highly energy efficient and to produce much lower carbon emissions, and that the next generation of newbuilds will produce 75 to 80 per cent less carbon than current standards2. That summary also states that rooftop solar photovoltaics will be mandatory on new homes, that a new Home Energy Model will replace SAP, and that heat pumps and low-carbon heating will be mandatory2. These points are not set out in the Roadmap text itself, and the Government has not confirmed them.
"Government will publish the Future Homes Standard this Autumn"
The Roadmap places the standard within a wider solar programme. It records that the Clean Power Action Plan seeks 45 to 47GW of installed solar capacity by 2030, up from over 18GW at present, with scope to exceed the upper limit subject to system need1. It notes that an additional 9 to 10GW of rooftop solar projects could deploy before 2030, which could take the range to 54 to 57GW1. The Roadmap also states that the solar sector could support around 35,000 jobs by 2030, double the number it supports today1. A distributor summary puts current direct roles at 9,000 since 20222.
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Solar capacity now | Over 18GW | 1 |
| Solar capacity sought by 2030 | 45 to 47GW | 1 |
| Possible range with extra rooftop | 54 to 57GW | 1 |
| Carbon reduction claimed for newbuilds | 75 to 80 per cent | 2 |
Why it matters for households
The Future Homes Standard sets the rules for homes built after it takes effect, so it does not change the fabric or heating of an existing property. Its relevance to a household's energy independence lies in what a new home is built with: the Roadmap links the standard to installing solar on as many newbuild homes as possible1, and the distributor summary states that rooftop solar will be mandatory and that battery storage, while not legally mandated, is becoming aligned with government goals on grid stability2. A home built to the standard would therefore generate some of its own electricity from the outset, rather than relying wholly on imported power. For the wider system, the Roadmap frames rooftop solar as a way to reduce consumer bills immediately, given that every family and business is paying the price of exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets1. The devolved administrations set their own building and energy policies, and the Roadmap states that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate ambitions and supporting policies for renewable technologies1.
What happens next
The Roadmap states that the standard will be published in the autumn1. No date within that period has been reported, and no draft text or consultation outcome has been published. The Roadmap also records that a joint Government and industry Solar Council will be established to drive progress towards the solar ambitions1.
Sources2 cited
- UK Solar Roadmap 2025, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
- UK Solar Roadmap 2025: Essential Changes Solar and Battery Installers Need to Know - Infinity innovations, infinityinnovations.co.uk