Weekly planning news
Planning news - 27 March 2026
New homes required to have solar panels form 2028
It has been announced that from 2028 developers of new homes in England1 will be mandated to deliver solar panels and heat pumps on all new homes.
These measures have been debated for more than a decade, with updates to the Future Homes Standard under discussion for years.2
The energy secretary said that recent events such as the Iran war have shown that clean power is ‘essential’.
The updated requirements mean new homes built in England from 2028 will no longer be connected to the gas grid, with properties instead expected to use heat pumps or heat networks. Homes will also be required to install solar panels, with roofs expected to accommodate panels covering an area equivalent to 40% of the building’s ground floor space, unless exemptions apply.
The changes are intended to support the government’s wider clean energy and housing ambitions - working further towards the target of Net Zero.
According to the BBC3, the changes are set to add “an additional £10,000” to the cost of the home for a developer.
While the move has been welcomed by parts of the energy and low-carbon technology sectors, some housebuilders have raised concerns over cost and deliverability. In the same BBC piece4, The Home Builders Federation said the scale of the solar requirement had come as a surprise, warning that not every home design may be able to meet the standard easily.
Alongside the rules for new-build homes, the government is also looking to widen access to renewable energy for existing households. This includes plans to review regulations so plug-in solar panels, already widely used in parts of Europe, can be sold more easily in the UK.
Seven of twelve new town locations shortlisted for priority development
The government has announced5 the seven 'new town' locations it intends to prioritise for delivery as part of its wider push to increase housing delivery across England.
Published on 22 March6, the plans set out proposals for developments in Bedfordshire, Enfield, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Greenwich, South Gloucestershire and Milton Keynes. Each location is expected to deliver at least 10,000 homes, with several projected to provide up to 40,000 over the coming decades.
The government said the developments would be designed as well-connected communities, with homes, jobs, schools, green spaces and transport infrastructure planned from the outset.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed described the proposals as “a turning point in how we build for the future”, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves said planning reform was needed to help tackle rising housing costs and support growth.
However, not all responses to the government’s shortlist have been positive. In a joint statement7, East Devon District Council and Devon County Council said that they were ‘frustrated’ to see Devon developments not included in the shortlist.
Alongside the announcement, the government confirmed that a public consultation on the proposed locations and draft planning policy will remain open until 18 May. Final decisions on the locations are expected later this year following consultation and environmental assessment.
Consultation launched on Government’s national planning application fees
The government has launched a consultation on proposals to reform planning application fees in England, with the aim of bringing charges closer to cost recovery and creating a future model for local fee setting.
Published on 23 March 20268, the consultation proposes a new National Default Fee Schedule based on 90% of estimated processing costs. This would act as the baseline for a system allowing local planning authorities (LPAs) to vary fees locally where justified.
The government says the changes are needed to address an estimated £330 million annual shortfall in planning application fee income. According to the consultation, no current planning fee fully covers the cost of determining an application, with shortfalls ranging from 18% to 60%.
The application types most frequently identified by LPAs as underpriced9 were major section 73 applications and applications to discharge conditions, both cited by 92% of authorities surveyed. Outline applications for major developments and non-major section 73 applications were also highlighted, with 88% of LPAs considering them underpriced.
The proposals include restructuring some fee categories to make the system simpler and more transparent, as well as introducing new fees in certain areas. They also include a proposed surcharge of around 10% on the national default fee to help cover the costs of statutory consultees.
The consultation10 seeks views on how local fee setting should operate in practice, including whether locally set fees should be capped, and on the future role of Planning Performance Agreements, pre-application advice and other discretionary services.
The consultation is open until 11:59pm on 18 May 2026, with responses invited from across the planning and development sector.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjw7klkjm2o
- https://www.planningportal.co.uk/services/weekly-planning-news/planning-news-8-january-2026#home-energy-storage-batteries-to-be-removed-from-future-homes-standard-according-to-reports
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjw7klkjm2o
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjw7klkjm2o
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c393l8w7me2o
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/seven-new-towns-proposed-to-kickstart-housebuilding-push
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78l69dqee1o
- https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fees-for-planning-applications
- https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/planning-application-processing-fees-survey-councils-august-2025
- https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fees-for-planning-applications
