Sussex has more new-build estates than most UK counties — particularly across Mid Sussex, West Sussex and the Crawley area. Highwood and Kilnwood Vale in Horsham. Forge Wood and Kilnwood Vale in Crawley. Graylingwell and West of Centurion Way in Chichester. West Durrington and Northbrook in Worthing. The Northern Arc and the former Keymer Tile Works site in Burgess Hill.
Most of these developments either include solar panels as standard, offer them as an upgrade, or are particularly well-suited to retrofit installs. This guide walks through what new-build homeowners actually need to know in 2026.
Why new-builds are particularly good for solar
Four reasons new-builds typically deliver better solar outcomes than older properties:
- Modern roof geometries — simple two-pitch designs, often with one side facing south. No complex hips, valleys, dormers or chimneys to work around.
- Newer roof tiles — uniform, standard sizes that work with all mounting systems. No risk of breaking 80-year-old clay tiles.
- Better insulation and lower base energy use — newer homes need less energy overall, so the same kWh of solar covers a higher proportion of demand.
- No conservation area or listed building constraints — virtually all new-builds are outside designated heritage protection, so permitted development applies. No planning to worry about.
Building Regulations Part L 2022 — what new homes must include
Since June 2022, English Building Regulations Part L has effectively required all new homes to produce significantly less CO2 than the previous standard. Most developers meet this by including either solar panels, air source heat pumps, or significantly improved insulation as standard.
By 2026, virtually all new-build homes in Sussex include either:
- A small solar PV system (typically 1–2 kW) — meets the regs but rarely covers full household demand
- An air source heat pump for heating and hot water
- Both — increasingly common on premium new-builds
The minimum-spec solar systems from developers are usually 1.5–2 kW. That’s enough to meet the regs but typically generates only 1,300–1,800 kWh per year — about 30–40% of a normal household’s annual electricity use. Most new-build owners benefit significantly from upgrading or expanding the developer’s system.
The ‘Future Homes Standard’ — coming 2025/26
Government has signalled the Future Homes Standard will tighten Part L further. All new homes built after 2025 should produce 75–80% less CO2 than under the 2013 regulations. In practice, that means heat pumps as standard plus larger solar systems (3 kW+) as the baseline.
If you’re buying a new-build completing in 2026 or later, it’s worth asking the developer’s sales team specifically what’s included on the energy spec.
Should you upgrade the developer’s solar?
Almost always yes, if the property allows. The developer’s standard system is sized for regulatory compliance, not for maximising your household savings. A typical upgrade scenario:
| System | Generation | Annual saving (Sussex average) |
|---|---|---|
| Developer spec — 1.5 kW | ~1,300 kWh | £200–£300 |
| Upgraded — 4 kW (10 panels) | ~3,500 kWh | £500–£700 |
| Upgraded — 4 kW + 10 kWh battery | ~3,500 kWh + storage | £800–£1,100 |
If the developer is willing to install the upgraded system at the point of construction, that’s often the cleanest option — single install, integrated into the build sequence, often via the developer’s preferred installer. Worth asking.
If they’re not, post-completion retrofit is straightforward. We do many Sussex new-build retrofits.
Specific Sussex new-build estates
Forge Wood, Crawley
One of the largest active developments in West Sussex. Built by Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Crest Nicholson and others. Most homes have small solar systems as standard with the option to upgrade. Roof orientations are predominantly favourable for solar. Plug into Crawley’s Home Energy scheme for additional support.
Kilnwood Vale (Crawley/Horsham border)
Award-winning sustainable development by Crest Nicholson. Modern roof designs ideal for solar; many homes include solar plus air-source heat pumps as standard. Strong eco credentials throughout.
Highwood, Horsham
Berkeley Group development on Horsham’s southern edge. Mix of detached and semi-detached homes with large roof surfaces — ideal for 5–6 kW systems. Some homes include developer solar; many benefit from upgrades.
Graylingwell, Chichester
One of the UK’s most sustainable urban extensions, built on the former Graylingwell Hospital site. Strong renewable energy credentials. Homes here have well-oriented roofs and the Chichester District Council Solar Together scheme is particularly popular.
West of Centurion Way, Chichester
Newer Chichester District development with simple, large roof geometries. Modern construction makes retrofit straightforward.
West Durrington & Northbrook, Worthing
Mix of family homes with generous roof areas. Many were built with solar-readiness in mind (consumer unit pre-wired, roof structure already calculated for panel load). Retrofit is typically very straightforward.
Northern Arc and Keymer Tile Works, Burgess Hill
Major new development on Burgess Hill’s northern edge. Modern roof designs, low-rise streetscape, no heritage constraints. Ideal for 4–6 kW systems with batteries.
Battery storage for new-builds
New-build homes typically have generous garage or utility-room space — ideal for battery storage. We install batteries alongside solar upgrades at new-build properties frequently. See our UK Solar Battery Guide 2026 for the brand comparison.
EV chargers and new-builds
New-build properties almost always have off-street parking and driveways — ideal for a smart EV charger paired with solar. Many new estates have charger points pre-installed by the developer; many residents upgrade or add additional points for second cars. See our Solar + EV Charging guide for the combined economics.
In-roof solar for new-builds
Because new-build roofs are typically being constructed from scratch, in-roof integrated systems are often easier to install at point of construction than retrofitted on top of existing tiles. The aesthetic is cleaner (panels flush with the tile line), and on some estates the developer or planning officers explicitly prefer in-roof for visual consistency.
If you’re talking to the developer about a solar upgrade, ask about in-roof. See our In-Roof vs On-Roof guide for the trade-offs.
Warranties and developer aftercare
If the developer’s installer goes bust or stops supporting your system, you may need a third-party installer to take over. We service systems installed by other companies as well as our own — including the various developer-spec systems across Sussex estates.
When you take ownership of a new-build with solar, ask the developer for:
- MCS certificate (essential for Smart Export Guarantee)
- Panel and inverter warranty documentation
- Installer’s details and warranty contact
- Building control sign-off including the solar registration
- Smart Export Guarantee documentation if already set up
Bottom line
New-build homes in Sussex are exceptionally well-suited to solar. Modern roof designs, no heritage constraints, often pre-wired for an upgrade. The developer-spec systems are usually undersized; upgrading at the point of build (or retrofit shortly after) typically delivers far better long-term savings.
If you’re moving into a new-build at Forge Wood, Highwood, Graylingwell, Kilnwood Vale, West Durrington or anywhere else in Sussex, we can survey the property and tell you what’s already there, what needs upgrading, and what battery + EV charger combination makes the most sense.
