Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the oral contribution of the Deputy Leader of the House of Lords of 4 September 2023 on the Lords Report stage of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, Official Report, column 280 HL, when his Department plans to publish its consultation on the technical specification for the future homes standard; if he will make it his policy for that consultation to include a requirement for solar to be equipped as mandatory on all suitable homes; and if he will make a statement.
Answer
We intend to consult this year on the technical specification for the Future Homes Standard. The Building Regulations on energy efficiency will continue to set a performance-based standard rather than mandating the use of any specific technologies. Under the current performance standards, most new homes are likely to be built with solar panels.