All new homes should be required to have solar panels to cut carbon and household bills, the Local Government Association (LGA) has urged.
In a new report, Empowering Local Climate Action: Advice to Government, the LGA warns that 60% of new builds still go up without rooftop solar – missing a huge opportunity to drive down emissions and costs.
The report says mandating solar on new homes could save residents an estimated £440 a year on energy bills while pushing the country closer to its green targets.
The recommendation is part of a broader set of proposals aimed at unlocking the potential of local authorities in the race to net zero.
The LGA stresses councils are critical to cutting emissions and delivering clean energy but are being held back by inadequate funding and powers.
The report outlines four key areas where councils could lead the charge if properly empowered: decarbonising housing, modernising the energy system, expanding clean power, and protecting nature.
Under its “Warm Homes Plan,” the LGA wants councils to be tasked with upgrading five million homes through long-term, locally-led retrofit programmes. It is also calling for urgent reform of the energy system to unlock locally-led clean energy projects, fast-track community power schemes, and modernise infrastructure.
To protect nature, councils want stronger powers to drive biodiversity restoration and integrate natural capital into local planning frameworks.
To deliver all this, the LGA is pushing for a new national-local climate governance framework, more legislative powers for councils to set climate targets, multi-year outcome-focused funding, and new green finance mechanisms to accelerate investment.
A green skills strategy, including apprenticeships and workforce planning, is also vital to ensure the UK can meet future clean energy demands.
Adam Hug, Environment spokesperson for the LGA, said: “This report sets out what councils can achieve and how to do it, if the Government is able to back them with the powers and funding to turn this into a reality.
“Councils are ready to go further and faster on climate action – but we need a plan that works in partnership with local government. However, the funding or policies needed to empower them to help fully realise this ambition are not yet in place. “
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