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Sunshine Bill debate calling for solar PV on new homes adjourned

17th January 2025

The second reading of the Sunshine Bill, a Private Members Bill (PMB) tabled by Max Williamson MP calling for mandatory solar on new homes, has has been adjourned until July.

The bill was debated this morning (17 January), with many MPs delivering impassioned speeches supporting solar panels on new homes. Following a morning of high-quality debate, the second reading was adjourned to 11 July 2025.

Find out more about the Sunshine Bill

There is widespread public support for rooftop solar on new homes, with our recent survey with YouGov showing 82% are in favour. This figure jumps to 89% for Labour voters. Our survey in 2023 showed that 97% of CPRE supporters support rooftop solar on new buildings. In just a few weeks, more than 10,000 CPRE supporters have emailed over 600 MPs, representing more than 90% of constituencies in the UK, urging them to support the Sunshine Bill.

Research by University College London for CPRE in May 2023 revealed that there is enough unused roof space to significantly exceed the government’s solar targets of 70GB by 2030. With the crises of climate change and cost-of-living, as well as ongoing pressures on our countryside, the Sunshine Bill could put us on the critical path to net zero.

What the adjournment means

Several rules apply when debating legislation in parliament. A debate needs to be concluded within an allotted timeframe, and at least 100 MPs need to be in attendance to move the debate to a vote to enable the bill to progress. Because these conditions weren’t fulfilled, the bill will be reconsidered on 11 July 2025. This delay does not signal the end of the effort, but offers a new opportunity for MPs to revisit this important issue in the coming months.

What’s next for our campaign

There was plenty to be encouraged by during the debate, which you can watch back here (from 9:34 am), with MPs across different parties showing strong support for achieving a renewable revolution and climate action that protects our countryside, delivers the sustainable homes we need and helps lower energy prices. It was pointed out that we are missing opportunities that other countries have been faster to embrace, potentially leaving the UK behind on energy security independence and all the benefits that come with decarbonisation.

Minister of State for Housing and Planning Matthew Pennycook confirmed he would not be supporting the bill, largely due to developer concerns around implementation. He did however outline some encouraging plans in the Future Homes Standard 2025, an upcoming set of regulations intended to future-proof new homes and make them zero carbon ready. A consultation on the Future Homes Standard was launched in 2023. Whether it’s through the Future Homes Standard or the Sunshine Bill, CPRE has and will continue to campaign for mandatory solar on new homes at every opportunity.

Look out for further updates soon as we consider the best ways we can positively influence both the Sunshine Bill, and the Future Homes Standard – to deliver the common-sense rooftop revolution that our supporters, and the general public, so enthusiastically support.

Finally, we want to say a huge thank you to every one of our supporters who emailed their MP about the Sunshine Bill. Your voice has been instrumental in helping to influence your MP to support rooftop solar. It’s vital we keep this momentum going.

E5A5J5 Solar energy rooftop panels UK

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