Renewables for Cornwall New Builds: What's Required & What's Worth Adding
Cornwall Council's Climate Emergency Development Plan Document (adopted 2023) requires all new builds to avoid fossil fuel heating. This guide explains what that means in practice — which technologies are required, which are optional but financially worthwhile, and how to plan an integrated renewable system from the start.
Building Regulations Requirements
If you're building a new home in Cornwall — self-build, developer plot, or barn conversion — there are mandatory requirements around energy efficiency and heating that have tightened significantly in recent years. The 2021 update to Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) introduced Future Homes Standard transitional arrangements, requiring new homes to produce 31% fewer carbon emissions than under 2013 regulations.
Part L & The Future Homes Standard
Under the current Part L (2021), new homes must meet a Target Emissions Rate (TER). Gas boilers typically struggle to meet the TER without very high fabric standards. Heat pumps combined with solar PV comfortably meet or exceed the target. The full Future Homes Standard will require no fossil fuel heating, high fabric efficiency, and low-carbon heating in all new builds.
Cornwall Council Policy
Cornwall Council's Climate Emergency Development Plan Document (adopted February 2023) requires all new Cornwall builds to be fossil fuel free — no gas or oil connections permitted. In practice, this means heat pumps are the expected heating solution for all new builds in Cornwall.
- No fossil fuel heating in new development
- EPC A or B target
- EV charging infrastructure (cable provision at minimum)
- Water efficiency measures
What to Install: A New Build Renewable Stack
For a typical Cornwall new build (3–4 bedroom, 100–150m²):
- Air source heat pump (8–12kW): The backbone of the heating system. Budget £8,000–13,000 before grant.
- Underfloor heating: Ideal for heat pump's low flow temperatures. Much easier to install during construction. Budget £3,000–6,000 ground floor.
- Unvented hot water cylinder: Mixergy smart cylinder recommended for solar integration. Budget £800–1,400.
- Solar PV (4–6kWp): Install during roof construction for cleanest integration. Budget £6,000–8,500.
- Battery storage (optional): Budget £3,800–5,500.
- EV charger: Required under Part S for new builds with off-street parking. Budget £600–900.
Integrated Systems: Better Together
Building new gives you the opportunity to design all systems as an integrated whole from the start. Solar charges the battery during the day; the battery powers the heat pump and EV charger when rates are high; cheap overnight electricity fills the battery when solar isn't generating. This integrated approach can reduce energy bills to near zero in summer and cut winter bills by 50–60% compared to a gas-heated home.
CCS Heating & Renewables offers integrated design consultancy for new builds — working from your architect's drawings to specify the optimal system and manage installation across all trades.
Talk to Us Early
The best time to discuss renewable systems is before foundations are dug. Early design decisions (floor build-up depth for UFH, roof orientation for solar, plant room sizing for heat pump) are cheap to change on paper and expensive after the concrete is poured. Get in touch early in your project for a no-obligation renewable system design.
Need personalised advice?
Our MCS certified engineers can answer your questions and provide a free, no-obligation assessment for your property.