Modern UK new build housing development in Lancashire

North West county

Solar panels for new builds in Lancashire

Future Homes Standard solar PV for housebuilders, developers and self-builders across Lancashire. Per-plot pricing, factory pre-fit, SAP/HEM compliance pack — delivered locally.

Get a Lancashire quote FHS PV calculator

Planning a Lancashire development? Get a fixed per-plot price within 48 hours.

Free quote →

Lancashire is one of the most active housing-delivery counties in the North West, with Preston, Blackburn, Burnley and the West Lancashire belt all running substantial new-build programmes. The Future Homes Standard arrives on 24 March 2027 — and Lancashire developers are ahead of much of the country in already specifying FHS-equivalent generation, driven by the Lancashire Climate Coalition's 2030 net-zero target and the West Lancashire Local Plan's sustainable construction policies. We provide FHS-compliant solar PV across the Lancashire pipeline — from custom-build self-builders in the Trough of Bowland to volume housebuilder programmes around Chorley, Preston and Burnley.

Cities & towns served

Major schemes tracked

2027

FHS in force

40%

PV / ground floor area

Housing pipeline across Lancashire

~7,500 new dwellings allocated annually across Lancashire Local Plans. The strategic and Local Plan allocations driving new-build delivery across the county over the FHS transitional period (2026-2028):

Scheme	Plots	Lead developer	Status
South Lancaster Growth Area	9,500	Multiple housebuilders / Lancaster City Council	Long-term allocation; first phases 2026-2032
Cottam Hall (Preston)	1,700	Eccleston Homes / Story Homes JV	Construction Phase 3
Buckshaw Village (Chorley)	2,400	Multiple housebuilders	Phase 4-7 delivery 2026-2030
Whittingham (Preston)	750	Wainhomes	Outline consent 2024
West of Burscough	1,100	Multiple housebuilders	Strategic allocation

Local Plan & policy context

Most Lancashire authorities adopted Local Plans between 2018 and 2024 with policies increasing renewable generation requirements on new dwellings. Preston Local Plan (adopted 2024) commits to net-zero new construction by 2030 — three years ahead of FHS — making the city already a leading FHS-spec market. The Lancashire Combined Authority (when fully established) is expected to formalise a county-wide net-zero housing strategy.

Cities and towns we serve in Lancashire

Preston

Lancashire county town — 1,800+ plots/year; major regen schemes at City Centre and Cottam

Blackpool

Coastal regeneration — 800 plots/year; coastal-resilience considerations affect roof-mounted PV detail

Burnley

East Lancashire — 600 plots/year; pipeline at Princess Way and Spring Mill

Chorley

Central Lancashire — 900 plots/year; Buckshaw Village and Euxton extension

Lancaster

North Lancashire — 700 plots/year; South Lancaster Growth Area 9,500-home long-term allocation

Blackburn

East Lancashire — 800 plots/year; Blackburn Town Centre regen and South Roe Lee allocations

Skelmersdale (West Lancs)

West Lancashire — 1,200 plots/year; Whalleys, Skelmersdale Town Centre and Burscough Wharf

FHS in Lancashire: what makes this county different

Lancashire developers face the same FHS deadline as elsewhere — 24 March 2027. The county is unusual in three respects: (1) Preston's 2030 net-zero target means PCT-led plots are already specifying FHS-equivalent ahead of the deadline. (2) The coastal climate (Blackpool, Fylde, Morecambe Bay) introduces additional wind-loading considerations for roof-mounted PV — typically requiring upgraded mounting hardware certified to higher wind zones. (3) The Trough of Bowland AONB constraint affects custom-build plots in mid-Lancashire — BIPV solar tile rather than panel arrays often required for AONB-zone consents.

Top Lancashire housebuilders we work with

Story Homes (HQ in Carlisle, active in North Lancs)Anwyl HomesWainhomesRedrow LancashireRussell ArmerEccleston HomesBellway North West

Why work with us in Lancashire

We operate across Lancashire with installation crews based in Preston and serving the county from Furness in the north to West Lancs in the south. Per-plot pricing locked at procurement, factory pre-fit available, wind-loading-upgraded mounting hardware as standard for coastal postcodes. SAP/HEM modelling delivered to align with Lancashire LPA preferences for documentation format. Active framework agreements with several Lancashire-based volume housebuilders.

40% of ground floor area

PV / ground floor area

Mar 2027

FHS in force

75%

CO₂ vs 2013 baseline

£4,350 per dwelling

Per-plot premium

For developers and housebuilders

New-build solar in Lancashire for volume new-build programmes

Per-plot pricing locked at procurement. Factory pre-fit on panelised roof cassettes. SAP/HEM modelling for every house type included. NHBC, LABC, Premier and Buildmark warranty-accepted workmanship. 20-year insurance-backed system warranty. We work with developers from 50 plots to 5,000+ across multi-site frameworks — agreed pricing, agreed programme, agreed warranty stack.

Developer hub →

For self-builders and architects

New-build solar in Lancashire for one-off custom builds

Engagement from RIBA Stage 2. PV sizing collaborative with the architect. SAP/HEM modelling that gives the architect freedom on glazing ratios and roof geometry. Building Control submission pack ready for the Approved Inspector. 0% VAT on new-build dwellings. Staged invoicing aligned to your self-build mortgage drawdowns. We work with custom-build buyers across England, Wales and Scotland.

Self-build hub →

How this fits into the FHS compliance pathway

Every FHS-compliant new build must pass three regulatory gates. New-build solar in Lancashire fits primarily into the second gate — design-stage Part L compliance — but has knock-on implications for Building Control sign-off and post-completion warranty:

1
Planning permission Most solar PV on new dwellings is consented within the dwelling\'s primary planning consent. Conservation Areas, Article 4 directions and listed-curtilage plots require additional planning consideration — we handle the planning evidence required for these.
2
Building Control — Part L compliance SAP 10.3 or HEM compliance modelling demonstrating Dwelling Emission Rate ≤ Target Emission Rate. PV specification, ASHP capacity, fabric U-values and air permeability all entered into the modelling. We provide the full compliance file ready for the Approved Inspector.
3
Post-completion — warranty & EPC MCS certificate, EPC, monitoring app onboarding and 20-year insurance-backed workmanship warranty. NHBC, LABC, Premier and Buildmark all accept our installation specification without query — important if you\'re relying on a structural warranty for buyer mortgageability.

For a fuller walkthrough of the compliance process, see our Part L 2026 page and the FHS PV calculator which sizes a compliant system from your ground floor area in 30 seconds.

Frequently asked

Common questions

Answers to the questions we get most often when discussing new-build solar in Lancashire with new clients.

When does the Future Homes Standard come into force?

24 March 2027 in England, with a 12-month transitional period running to 24 March 2028 for projects already under construction. The Approved Documents L and F were published on 24 March 2026 (Government statement HCWS1445), giving the industry exactly 12 months of certainty before regulatory commencement. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are following with broadly equivalent regulations on roughly aligned timetables, although devolved nuances apply — Welsh regulations are typically 6 months ahead.

What does FHS-compliant solar PV actually cost per plot?

The Government Impact Assessment puts the total FHS premium at ~£4,350 per dwelling per dwelling (2025 prices, weighted average across heat pump, solar PV, MVHR and enhanced fabric). Of that, solar PV is roughly £4,200 — covering ~3.4 kWp for a typical 3-bed semi (panels, in-roof mounting, inverter, monitoring, MCS certification and 20-year insurance-backed warranty). Larger dwellings cost proportionately more; volume procurement reduces per-plot cost by 20–25%.

Will the 40% PV rule actually be enforced?

Yes — the rule is a functional requirement in the Approved Document, not guidance. Building Control sign-off requires SAP/HEM modelling demonstrating compliance. The previous Part L 2021 token "2-panel" systems no longer pass, since they fall ~85% below the 40% benchmark. The deemed-to-satisfy route requires the full 40%; alternative compliance through enhanced fabric is possible but rarely cost-effective.

Can I exceed FHS minimum specifications?

Yes — and many self-builders and premium developers do. Marginal capital cost of a larger array (e.g. 5 kWp instead of 3.4 kWp on a 3-bed) is only £1,000–£1,200, while the additional generation pays back in 3–4 years at 2026 electricity tariffs. Upgrades that fit easily on top of an FHS-compliant base include battery storage (£3,500–£5,000), larger array size, EV charge point pre-fit (£600) and air permeability below 2 (achievable with deliberate detail).

FHS 2027 deadline approaching

Get a fixed-price quote for Lancashire

Tell us your plot details — ground floor area, location and target start-on-site date. We return a fully-costed system sized to Part L 2026 (40% PV rule), with the SAP/HEM compliance pack included.

Get my free quote Try the FHS calculator 📞 0330 088 5421