Eastbourne MP backs bill to make solar panels mandatory on new homes

Caroline Ansell is working with stakeholders across Eastbourne to house solar panels on rooftops to help keep energy costs down and give the country better energy security. She is also working in Parliament to ensure solar is a critical part of the UK's energy mix. The amendment she’s signed is to the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill, tabled by her colleague John Stevenson. It calls for rooftop solar on new builds in England from April 2025.

Mrs Ansell said: “Solar costs have fallen by 50 per cent in the last seven years and I believe it is now the right time to ensure developers put this technology on all new homes. This is a win for homeowners and the planet. Installing solar is green and it will cut energy costs for people when gas and electricity prices are high and will remain so for some time.

“It is also an investment in jobs and skills for the country. We have a shortage of trained engineers in this sector. Having more solar will stimulate the industry and drive innovation and rollout. My hope is the government will see the amendment has merit and support it.”

Solar projects are estimated to be around four times cheaper than natural gas and are better for the environment. Find out more about solar panels here.

Councillor Jim Murray, Eastbourne Borough Council’s climate change champion, said: “Last week the council hosted a solar summit in Eastbourne where the importance of solar in the energy mix was front and centre of the discussions. Eastbourne is the sunniest town in the UK, so the widest possible use of solar has always been an aspiration. However, the government will need to fully invest in this approach if it is to happen, including the retrofitting of older properties.”

Retrofitting means adding solar panels to older properties.

Andrew Durling, executive director of Eastbourne Eco Action Network, said: “I warmly welcome Caroline Ansell's initiative to promote the installation of solar energy on rooftops both here in Eastbourne and elsewhere. I especially welcome her support for making solar PV mandatory on new homes, as that would ensure that new homeowners make very significant savings on their energy bills and help reduce the UK's carbon emissions at the same time. Caroline understands how absurd it is that we have so little solar energy in Eastbourne despite being the sunniest town in the UK! She attended the recent Sustainable Business & Solar Summit in Eastbourne organised by the Eastbourne Eco Action Network CIC, listening intently to the many excellent presentations by solar industry experts, so it's really great to see her turn her knowledge about solar energy to good use in supporting the rapid roll-out of solar energy across our town and the UK. Let's help Caroline bring some sunshine into our lives by getting our homes to run on sun!”

Solar summit in Eastbourne

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