AFTER years of delay, the Future Homes Standard objective has been released.

The Government is driving forward with the rollout of “plug-in” solar panels (low-cost panels that families can put on their balconies or outdoor space) to be available in shops within months and save people money on their bills.

Retailers like Lidl and Amazon, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, are working with Government to enable them to be brought to the UK market.

The Standard also states that heat pumps and cleaner heating will be included as part of high fabric efficiency standards for new homes.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “Building 1.5 million new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in.

“As we make the switch to clean, homegrown energy, today’s standard is what the future of housing can and should look like. Not only will these changes protect hardworking families from shocks abroad but will also slash hundreds of pounds off their energy bills every year.”

Dr Ellie Chowns, Leader of the Parliamentary Green Party and MP for North Herefordshire, said: “These are all steps in the right direction, and they show some of what is possible when government stops dithering and starts taking action to address our housing crisis.

“But let’s be clear: the Future Homes Standard is still far too timid for the scale of the challenge we face.

“We won’t solve the housing crisis by simply building more homes – they must be the right homes, in the right places, at the right prices, built on the right timetable. It is about creating places people can actually live in, affordably and sustainably.

"The projected timescale is simply not good enough. Waiting until 2028 to implement higher standards for new homes is utterly ridiculous when the scale of the crisis is so great and action so urgently needed.”