The Sunshine’s Gone

The Sunshine Bill, a Private Members Bill introduced by Max Williamson MP, aims to mandate the installation of solar PV on all new homes in the UK. While its second reading in Parliament on 17 January 2025 garnered significant support, the debate was adjourned until 11 July 2025 due to procedural requirements. Despite this delay, the bill has sparked widespread public and political interest, reflecting the growing recognition of solar power’s role in addressing climate change and energy security.

Public support for rooftop solar is overwhelming. A recent YouGov survey revealed that 82% of the public back mandatory solar panels on new homes, with this figure rising to 89% among Labour voters. CPRE (The Countryside Charity) has been at the forefront of this campaign, mobilising over 10,000 supporters to contact their MPs. Research by University College London further underscores the potential of rooftop solar, showing that unused roof space could exceed the government’s solar target of 70GW by 2030.

Hmm…

The Sunshine Bill represents a critical opportunity to align housing development with the UK’s net-zero goals. I can’t imagine why it hasn’t been passed already. Solar PV not only reduces carbon emissions but also lowers energy costs for households and lessens reliance on fossil fuels. However, resistance from developers has been cited as an obstacle, with concerns over implementation costs and logistics.

While the government’s Future Homes Standard 2025 proposes regulations for zero-carbon-ready homes, advocates (me, Leanne and the rest of the UNDERTWOK team) argue that mandatory solar PV would accelerate progress. At the same time, delay might not be a bad thing. It could provide an opportunity to strengthen its case and address concerns.

The roofing & construction industries and the rest of us stand to benefit greatly from this shift towards renewable energy integration. By embracing solar technologies, these sectors can drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute to a sustainable future.

References

CPRE (2025) ‘Sunshine Bill debate calling for solar PV on new homes adjourned’, CPRE News, 17 January. Available at: https://www.cpre.org.uk/news/sunshine-bill-debate-calling-for-solar-pv-on-new-homes-adjourned/  (Accessed: 22 January 2025).

Google. (2025). Gemini (Imagen 3) [AI image generator]. https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/imagen

University College London (2023) ‘Research reveals potential for unused roof space to exceed UK solar targets’, CPRE Report. Available at: https://www.cpre.org.uk/reports/unused-roof-space-solar-research/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).

YouGov (2025) ‘Survey reveals public support for rooftop solar on new homes’, YouGov Polling Data. Available at: https://www.yougov.co.uk/rooftop-solar-survey/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).