March 2026 has brought a wave of policy changes aimed at making low-carbon technology easier to install, cheaper to buy, and, for the first time, available to renters and flat owners who have never had a route into solar power. From plug-in panels you can buy in a supermarket to relaxed planning rules for heat pumps, here are six developments shaping the future of UK homes.
UK Legalises Plug-in Solar Panels for the First Time
Source: GOV.UK ·
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband announced on 16 March that the government will amend wiring regulations (BS 7671) and the G98 distribution code to allow households to connect low-wattage solar panels to a standard domestic socket, with no electrician required. The panels, expected to be capped at around 800 W of AC output, can be placed on balconies, walls, or in gardens, making solar power accessible to the millions of renters and flat owners who cannot install rooftop systems.
The government is working with retailers including Lidl and Amazon, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, to have approved products on shelves once the regulations are finalised, expected by mid-2026. Germany, which legalised plug-in solar earlier, had reached 1.15 million registered installations by mid-2025, collectively generating over 1 GW of peak power.
What this means
This is a genuine step-change for energy access. Until now, solar in the UK has required home ownership, a suitable roof, and an upfront investment of several thousand pounds. Plug-in panels at around £200–£400 bring solar within reach of renters, leaseholders, and anyone with a balcony or patch of outdoor space. For the Home Energy Model, plug-in solar is too small to shift a dwelling's EPC rating meaningfully, but it does reduce actual energy bills, a distinction the reformed EPC's energy cost metric should eventually capture better than the current system.
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Future Homes Standard Set to Triple the Heat Pump Market
Source: Energy Live News ·
With the Future Homes Standard expected to become mandatory from December 2026, every new home in England will need low-carbon heating and on-site renewables. Gas boilers cannot meet the standard. Industry analysts expect the heat pump market to jump from around 100,000 units a year to 300,000, effectively tripling overnight as housebuilders switch their default specification.
Households in FHS-compliant homes could save up to £830 a year compared with a typical EPC C-rated property, while cutting emissions by at least 75% against older building standards.
What this means
The FHS is the single biggest driver of heat pump adoption in the UK. It also makes HEM's heat pump modelling critical: every new-build compliance calculation will run through either SAP 10.3 or HEM. For the supply chain, the challenge is whether installers, manufacturers, and training providers can scale fast enough.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme Now Covers Air-to-Air Heat Pumps
Source: GOV.UK ·
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme has been expanded. From April 2026, homeowners in England and Wales can claim a new £2,500 grant towards an air-to-air heat pump that replaces a fossil fuel system. Heat batteries (which store heat overnight for daytime use) also now qualify for £2,500. The existing £7,500 grant for air-to-water and ground source heat pumps continues unchanged.
What this means
Air-to-air systems are cheaper to install and can provide cooling in summer, a growing concern as the overheating standard raises awareness of summer comfort. The trade-off is that they don't heat water, so a separate system is still needed. For HEM calculations, the heating system metric will reflect whichever technology is installed, and air-to-air systems will score well on efficiency.
Heat Pump Planning Rules Relaxed: Boundary Rule Scrapped
Source: Simple Solar ·
The long-standing requirement for air source heat pumps to be installed at least one metre from a neighbouring property boundary has been removed. Heat pumps can now be placed right up to the property line under permitted development in England, provided the outdoor unit does not exceed 1.5 m³. Air-to-air systems that also provide cooling are now covered too; previously they required planning permission. From 28 May 2026, all installations must meet the MCS 020 certification standard.
What this means
The one-metre rule was a genuine barrier for terraced houses and small plots where there simply was not room to comply. Removing it, alongside the new BUS grant for air-to-air, makes heat pumps viable for a much wider range of existing homes. For homeowners considering improvements ahead of a future EPC reassessment, fewer planning obstacles means one less reason to delay.
Solar Roadmap Sets 47 GW Target for 2030
Source: Energy Saving Trust ·
The government's Solar Roadmap outlines a path to 47 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030 as part of the Clean Power Plan. Alongside large-scale ground-mount and rooftop commercial projects, the roadmap includes measures to make domestic solar more accessible, including the plug-in solar announcement above, a voluntary community benefit protocol for homes near solar farms, and reform of EPCs to better capture the value of on-site generation.
What this means
The roadmap reinforces that solar PV will play a growing role in home energy performance. HEM already models solar gains and PV generation in detail. The proposed EPC reforms, when they arrive in late 2027, should give solar-equipped homes a clearer advantage on their certificate, something the current SAP-based EPC undersells.
ECO4 Extended to December 2026, But What Comes Next?
Source: GOV.UK ·
The ECO4 obligation on energy suppliers (which funds insulation, boiler replacements, and heat pumps for low-income households) has been extended by nine months to 31 December 2026, after originally being set to end on 31 March. The extension buys time, but the government has not confirmed a direct successor. The Warm Homes Plan, backed by £15 billion, is expected to take over as the main route for government-backed retrofit support, though eligibility details and delivery mechanisms are still being finalised.
What this means
ECO has been one of the most effective routes for improving the worst-performing homes, exactly the properties that will struggle most under reformed EPCs and the MEES EPC C deadline. Any gap between ECO4 ending and the Warm Homes Plan being fully operational could leave vulnerable households without support at a critical time. The industry is watching closely for clarity before the December deadline.
Background & Context
These six stories sit within a broader shift in UK energy policy. The Future Homes Standard, expected in December 2026, will transform how new homes are built. The Home Energy Model, which underpins FHS compliance calculations, will eventually replace SAP for domestic EPCs too, though that transition has been pushed back to late 2027.
For existing homes, the picture is a mix of carrots and sticks. Grants are getting more generous and more broadly targeted (air-to-air heat pumps, heat batteries, plug-in solar). Planning barriers are being reduced. But the MEES EPC C deadline of October 2030 looms, and the methodology that will determine whether a property passes is still being finalised. Landlords and homeowners making improvement decisions today are working with incomplete information about how their homes will be assessed in three years' time.
What to Watch Next
- Mid-2026: finalised wiring regulations for plug-in solar; this determines the wattage cap and which products can legally be sold
- April 2026: BUS air-to-air and heat battery grants go live
- 28 May 2026: MCS 020 becomes the sole heat pump certification standard under permitted development
- Summer 2026: the government will announce the specific reformed EPC launch date within H2 2027
- December 2026: FHS expected to become mandatory for new builds; ECO4 obligation ends
- 2027 onwards: Warm Homes Plan replaces ECO; delivery details still to come
For a full regulatory timeline, see our Timeline & Status page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I buy plug-in solar panels in the UK?
The government announced on 16 March 2026 that it will amend regulations to legalise plug-in solar. Updated wiring regulations and safety standards are expected by mid-2026, after which approved products should appear in shops including major retailers. You cannot legally plug one in today.
How do plug-in solar panels work?
A plug-in system consists of one or two panels with a built-in microinverter and a standard plug. You place the panels outside (on a balcony, wall, or in a garden) and plug the cable into a socket. The microinverter converts DC electricity into 230V AC, feeding directly into your home circuit and offsetting grid consumption.
Does the Future Homes Standard require heat pumps in every new home?
The FHS does not name heat pumps explicitly, but it requires a 75–80% carbon reduction and low-carbon heating. Gas boilers cannot meet this, so in practice the vast majority of new builds will install heat pumps alongside solar PV and improved insulation.
Can I get a grant for an air-to-air heat pump?
Yes. From April 2026, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers £2,500 towards air-to-air heat pumps in England and Wales. The system must replace an existing fossil fuel system, the old boiler must be fully removed, and the installation must be by an MCS-certified installer. Air-to-water and ground source heat pumps still attract the higher £7,500 grant.
Do I still need 1 metre clearance for a heat pump?
No. The one-metre boundary rule has been removed. Heat pumps can now be installed right up to the property line under permitted development in England, provided the unit does not exceed 1.5 cubic metres on a house (0.6 m³ on a block of flats). Conservation areas and listed buildings may still require planning permission.
Related Pages
Timeline & Status
Live tracker of HEM, FHS, EPC reform, and MEES milestones.
How HEM Models Heat Pumps
Technical detail on how the Home Energy Model calculates heat pump performance.
How HEM Models Solar PV
How solar generation and self-consumption are calculated in HEM.
Future Homes Standard: Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about the FHS, from fabric standards to compliance routes.
EPC Reform Delayed Until 2027
The government pushes reformed EPCs back from October 2026 to late 2027.