Property Developers
Solar costs least when it is part of the design. We advise developers on specification, regulations and connection so that panels meet the rules and help the building sell or let.
Solar is cheapest when it is drawn into the building from the start. Roof layout, structure, cable routes and the electrical room can all be arranged around it. Adding it later, to satisfy a planning condition, usually costs more and looks worse.
Building Regulations set the floor. In England, Approved Document L covers the conservation of fuel and power, with Volume 1 for dwellings and Volume 2 for other buildings. The 2021 edition took effect on 15 June 2022, and a 2026 edition applies to buildings subject to the 2026 standards. Check which edition your building falls under on its start date.
For homes, the Future Homes Standard is the next step. Planning Portal's March 2026 news says that from 2028 developers of new homes in England must deliver solar panels and heat pumps, with roofs able to take panels covering an area equal to 40% of the ground floor, unless an exemption applies. Confirm the dates and exemptions that apply to your scheme before you commit to a design.
On larger sites the connection can shape the layout. Talk to the network operator early. An array and its metering change the load and generation the operator has to plan for.
Hand-over is where many schemes lose value, because buyers and tenants want commissioning records, warranties and a working monitoring login. We help write those into the contract, so they arrive with the keys.
Challenges we help with
- Meeting the current Part L edition without wasted cost
- Preparing for the Future Homes Standard
- Coordinating roof design, connection and hand-over
How we help
- Advise on specification at design stage
- Check each scheme against the edition of Part L that applies
- Write commissioning and monitoring into the build contract
Sources & further reading
Related services
Frequently asked questions
When should solar be considered?
At design stage, because roof layout, structure and cable routes are cheap to settle on paper and costly to change on site.
Does solar help with Building Regulations?
On-site generation is a common way to reduce a building's calculated emissions, and the Future Homes Standard expects it on new homes from 2028. We check the route that applies to your building.
Insights for property developers
Designing a new scheme?
Share the planning stage, the number of units and the target completion date. We will outline what to settle first.