For self-builders & custom build

Self-build solar PV — without the volume-builder compromises

Working with your architect, your roof and your Building Control inspector. Specification-led, FHS-compliant from day one, with 0% VAT on materials and labour for new dwellings.

Free design consultation Self-build cost guide

12 yrs

Self-build experience

420+

Custom plots delivered

95%

Pass Building Control first time

0% VAT

On all materials & labour

Self-build solar deserves more than a volume-house spec

Volume housebuilders fit the minimum array the SAP/HEM file allows and stop there. Self-builders rarely should. Three things are different on a custom plot:

→Marginal cost is low. On a £600k–£1.2m custom build, doubling PV from the FHS minimum to a 6–10 kWp array adds £3,000–£6,000 — under 1% of build cost.
→HEM rewards self-consumption. Battery storage and bigger arrays score materially better Dwelling Emission Rates than the FHS minimum. Your architect can use that headroom to relax glazing constraints elsewhere.
→You live with the result for 30+ years. The 30-year saving from a properly-sized array is £35k–£55k at 2026 tariffs — and that's before EV charging, battery arbitrage and the SEG export.

See typical self-build costs →

Architect-designed self-build home with integrated solar PV array

Your self-build PV journey

From plot purchase to handover — how we integrate with your custom build programme.

Plot acquisition

Pre-purchase solar assessment of orientation, shading and roof potential. Useful when comparing two plots.

RIBA Stage 2–3

Working with your architect on form, roof geometry and array placement. Drawings and SAP/HEM modelling.

Tender & Stage 4

Fully specified PV package costed and tied to your main contractor's programme.

Build & sign-off

In-roof installation during roofing stage. Commissioning, MCS, EPC and Building Control completion.

Self-build resources

Plot design →

Roof pitch, orientation, shading: how plot choice and form decide the PV array.

Architect coordination →

How to integrate PV from RIBA Stage 2 onwards so the building works as a system.

Building Control sign-off →

Full plans, building notice, SAP/HEM compliance pack and the inspection schedule.

Finance options →

Custom build mortgages, 0% VAT, the Smart Export Guarantee and ECO4 interactions.

★★★★★ Verified clients

What our developer & self-build clients say

Three voices from across the new-build segment — volume housebuilder, custom-build self-build, and a housing association.

"They priced our whole 240-plot site at the land-bid stage, locked the figure in, and delivered on programme. The factory pre-fit on roof cassettes saved us four weeks. Per-plot pricing came in £400 below the FHS Impact Assessment benchmark."

Construction Director

UK Top-20 housebuilder · Cambridge

"I was nervous about how FHS would affect our self-build budget. Their architect-led service started at RIBA Stage 2 — by Stage 4 we had a 6.8 kWp in-roof spec, a HEM model showing comfortable compliance, and a price that worked with our build loan stage payments."

Sarah & James M.

Self-build (4-bed detached) · Oxfordshire

"We had to deliver 60 affordable homes to FHS-equivalent spec under AHP 2026 funding. The team handled SAP/HEM modelling across all four house types, NHBC approval and tenant onboarding. Bills are down 86% on average for our tenants — that's a real fuel poverty win."

Development Manager

Yorkshire housing association · Sheffield

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to install solar panels on my self-build?

If you apply for Building Control approval on or after 24 March 2027 in England, yes — Part L 2026 requires PV at 40% of the ground floor area as the deemed-to-satisfy benchmark. If your Building Control application is in before that date, the existing Part L 2021 rules apply during the transitional period to 24 March 2028.

Can I exceed the FHS minimum?

Absolutely. Many self-builders fit 6–10 kWp arrays plus a battery and ASHP — well above the 40% minimum — because the marginal cost is small in a custom build and the home value/energy bill economics are excellent. The HEM half-hourly engine rewards self-consumption so a larger array plus battery often produces the best Dwelling Emission Rate.

How does solar PV affect my Build Cost?

On a typical 200 m² custom build, a fully FHS-compliant PV package (~6 kWp in-roof, monitoring, MCS) runs £8,500–£11,500. That is roughly 0.5–1.5% of build cost — and the array immediately starts saving £900-£1,400/year on electricity. Self-builders qualify for 0% VAT on construction materials and labour under VAT Notice 708, including the solar PV.

Will my architect work with you?

Yes. We deliver a full architectural specification pack for your architect — DWG-compatible roof layout drawings, structural loadings, electrical schematic and Building Control documents. Most architects ask us to be involved at RIBA Stage 2 (concept design) so PV is integrated into the form, not bolted on at Stage 4.

In-roof solar or BIPV solar tiles?

In-roof solar (panels integrated into the roof structure) is the default — better £/kWp and visually clean. BIPV solar tiles (Marley SolarTile, GB-Sol PV Slate, Tesla Solar Roof) come into play for Conservation Areas, listed-curtilage plots and design-led custom builds where a panel array would compromise the aesthetic. We install across all BIPV products.

How long does installation take?

For a typical 6 kWp in-roof system on a self-build: 2–3 days during the roofing stage. The in-roof mounting must be installed before tiling or slating starts, then panels and inverter follow on. We coordinate directly with your main contractor to slot in around the master programme.

FHS 2027 deadline approaching

Free self-build design consultation

Send us your plot details, architect drawings (if you have them) and target start-on-site. We come back with array sizing, costed package and SAP/HEM impact.

Book consultation Try the FHS calculator 📞 0330 088 5421