Businesses and factories will be able to take their solar panels with them when they relocate, allowing them to continue to reap the benefits of lower bills under proposed changes planned by government.

In a consultation launched today, the government is seeking views on removing a barrier for building-mounted solar PV by allowing medium and large installations to be moved between buildings without loss of Feed in Tariff payments.

With an estimated 250,000 hectares of south facing commercial rooftops – the equivalent of 350,000 football pitches – there is massive potential in the UK to turn our buildings into power stations, helping to cut energy bills, reduce pressure on the grid and create jobs.

Launching the consultation, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy, Amber Rudd said: “Around 900 businesses already use solar PV – but I want to see more generating their own electricity.

“There’s potential for significant growth in this area so it’s vital that we remove the barriers which prevent businesses from benefiting.

“If there’s more rooftop solar we’ll see job creation as well as helping us deliver the clean, reliable energy supplies that the country needs at the lowest possible cost to consumers.

“Solar increasingly offers efficient and cost effective onsite generation opportunities to both businesses and domestic consumers.”

At the moment if a FIT accredited installation is moved it becomes ineligible for further support. This can act as a significant deterrent to landlords and tenants who cannot guarantee to have the long-term ownership or lease of a building.

Allowing the panels and the tariff to move with their owner will increase flexibility and make solar PV a much more attractive investment.

A further 13,040 new homes were started on site, according to the latest housing statistics published by the agency this month.

The statistics show that 3,229 market homes were started, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year. 9,811 starts (75% of the total) were for affordable homes.

This includes 653 new build homes purchased by the provider at build completion. As these have not previously been reported, excluding them allows a like for like comparison with the same period last year (9,767), which shows that starts for affordable homes were broadly steady (-6%).

This is in line with our expectations and forecasts as the final year of the Spending Period focuses on completions. The 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme accounted for 49% of starts, while the Affordable Homes Guarantees Programme accounted for 36%.

Affordable housing completions (10,631) also represented 75% of the total reported, equating to an increase of 28% on the same period last year; while the number of market homes completed (3,545) increased by 41%. Taken together, market and affordable housing completions increased by 31% relative to the same period last year.

There were a further 14,515 homes completed with the assistance of the Help to Buy equity loan, demonstrating the impact of this programme in helping people, particularly first time buyers into home ownership.

All of these programmes and homes contribute to overall housing supply and help to meet a range of housing needs in local communities.

HCA Chief Executive, Andy Rose, said: “The housing statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by HCA programmes in England, excluding London, with the exception of the Get Britain Building and Build to Rent programmes and Help to Buy equity loan, which the HCA administers on behalf of the Greater London Authority.”

A further 13,040 new homes were started on site, according to the latest housing statistics published by the agency this month.

The statistics show that 3,229 market homes were started, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year. 9,811 starts (75% of the total) were for affordable homes.

This includes 653 new build homes purchased by the provider at build completion. As these have not previously been reported, excluding them allows a like for like comparison with the same period last year (9,767), which shows that starts for affordable homes were broadly steady (-6%).

This is in line with our expectations and forecasts as the final year of the Spending Period focuses on completions. The 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme accounted for 49% of starts, while the Affordable Homes Guarantees Programme accounted for 36%.

Affordable housing completions (10,631) also represented 75% of the total reported, equating to an increase of 28% on the same period last year; while the number of market homes completed (3,545) increased by 41%. Taken together, market and affordable housing completions increased by 31% relative to the same period last year.

There were a further 14,515 homes completed with the assistance of the Help to Buy equity loan, demonstrating the impact of this programme in helping people, particularly first time buyers into home ownership.

All of these programmes and homes contribute to overall housing supply and help to meet a range of housing needs in local communities.

HCA Chief Executive, Andy Rose, said: “The housing statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by HCA programmes in England, excluding London, with the exception of the Get Britain Building and Build to Rent programmes and Help to Buy equity loan, which the HCA administers on behalf of the Greater London Authority.”

A further 13,040 new homes were started on site, according to the latest housing statistics published by the agency this month.

The statistics show that 3,229 market homes were started, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year. 9,811 starts (75% of the total) were for affordable homes.

This includes 653 new build homes purchased by the provider at build completion. As these have not previously been reported, excluding them allows a like for like comparison with the same period last year (9,767), which shows that starts for affordable homes were broadly steady (-6%).

This is in line with our expectations and forecasts as the final year of the Spending Period focuses on completions. The 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme accounted for 49% of starts, while the Affordable Homes Guarantees Programme accounted for 36%.

Affordable housing completions (10,631) also represented 75% of the total reported, equating to an increase of 28% on the same period last year; while the number of market homes completed (3,545) increased by 41%. Taken together, market and affordable housing completions increased by 31% relative to the same period last year.

There were a further 14,515 homes completed with the assistance of the Help to Buy equity loan, demonstrating the impact of this programme in helping people, particularly first time buyers into home ownership.

All of these programmes and homes contribute to overall housing supply and help to meet a range of housing needs in local communities.

HCA Chief Executive, Andy Rose, said: “The housing statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by HCA programmes in England, excluding London, with the exception of the Get Britain Building and Build to Rent programmes and Help to Buy equity loan, which the HCA administers on behalf of the Greater London Authority.”

A further 13,040 new homes were started on site, according to the latest housing statistics published by the agency this month.

The statistics show that 3,229 market homes were started, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year. 9,811 starts (75% of the total) were for affordable homes.

This includes 653 new build homes purchased by the provider at build completion. As these have not previously been reported, excluding them allows a like for like comparison with the same period last year (9,767), which shows that starts for affordable homes were broadly steady (-6%).

This is in line with our expectations and forecasts as the final year of the Spending Period focuses on completions. The 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme accounted for 49% of starts, while the Affordable Homes Guarantees Programme accounted for 36%.

Affordable housing completions (10,631) also represented 75% of the total reported, equating to an increase of 28% on the same period last year; while the number of market homes completed (3,545) increased by 41%. Taken together, market and affordable housing completions increased by 31% relative to the same period last year.

There were a further 14,515 homes completed with the assistance of the Help to Buy equity loan, demonstrating the impact of this programme in helping people, particularly first time buyers into home ownership.

All of these programmes and homes contribute to overall housing supply and help to meet a range of housing needs in local communities.

HCA Chief Executive, Andy Rose, said: “The housing statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by HCA programmes in England, excluding London, with the exception of the Get Britain Building and Build to Rent programmes and Help to Buy equity loan, which the HCA administers on behalf of the Greater London Authority.”

A further 13,040 new homes were started on site, according to the latest housing statistics published by the agency this month.

The statistics show that 3,229 market homes were started, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year. 9,811 starts (75% of the total) were for affordable homes.

This includes 653 new build homes purchased by the provider at build completion. As these have not previously been reported, excluding them allows a like for like comparison with the same period last year (9,767), which shows that starts for affordable homes were broadly steady (-6%).

This is in line with our expectations and forecasts as the final year of the Spending Period focuses on completions. The 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme accounted for 49% of starts, while the Affordable Homes Guarantees Programme accounted for 36%.

Affordable housing completions (10,631) also represented 75% of the total reported, equating to an increase of 28% on the same period last year; while the number of market homes completed (3,545) increased by 41%. Taken together, market and affordable housing completions increased by 31% relative to the same period last year.

There were a further 14,515 homes completed with the assistance of the Help to Buy equity loan, demonstrating the impact of this programme in helping people, particularly first time buyers into home ownership.

All of these programmes and homes contribute to overall housing supply and help to meet a range of housing needs in local communities.

HCA Chief Executive, Andy Rose, said: “The housing statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by HCA programmes in England, excluding London, with the exception of the Get Britain Building and Build to Rent programmes and Help to Buy equity loan, which the HCA administers on behalf of the Greater London Authority.”

A further 13,040 new homes were started on site, according to the latest housing statistics published by the agency this month.

The statistics show that 3,229 market homes were started, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year. 9,811 starts (75% of the total) were for affordable homes.

This includes 653 new build homes purchased by the provider at build completion. As these have not previously been reported, excluding them allows a like for like comparison with the same period last year (9,767), which shows that starts for affordable homes were broadly steady (-6%).

This is in line with our expectations and forecasts as the final year of the Spending Period focuses on completions. The 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme accounted for 49% of starts, while the Affordable Homes Guarantees Programme accounted for 36%.

Affordable housing completions (10,631) also represented 75% of the total reported, equating to an increase of 28% on the same period last year; while the number of market homes completed (3,545) increased by 41%. Taken together, market and affordable housing completions increased by 31% relative to the same period last year.

There were a further 14,515 homes completed with the assistance of the Help to Buy equity loan, demonstrating the impact of this programme in helping people, particularly first time buyers into home ownership.

All of these programmes and homes contribute to overall housing supply and help to meet a range of housing needs in local communities.

HCA Chief Executive, Andy Rose, said: “The housing statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by HCA programmes in England, excluding London, with the exception of the Get Britain Building and Build to Rent programmes and Help to Buy equity loan, which the HCA administers on behalf of the Greater London Authority.”

A further 13,040 new homes were started on site, according to the latest housing statistics published by the agency this month.

The statistics show that 3,229 market homes were started, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year. 9,811 starts (75% of the total) were for affordable homes.

This includes 653 new build homes purchased by the provider at build completion. As these have not previously been reported, excluding them allows a like for like comparison with the same period last year (9,767), which shows that starts for affordable homes were broadly steady (-6%).

This is in line with our expectations and forecasts as the final year of the Spending Period focuses on completions. The 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme accounted for 49% of starts, while the Affordable Homes Guarantees Programme accounted for 36%.

Affordable housing completions (10,631) also represented 75% of the total reported, equating to an increase of 28% on the same period last year; while the number of market homes completed (3,545) increased by 41%. Taken together, market and affordable housing completions increased by 31% relative to the same period last year.

There were a further 14,515 homes completed with the assistance of the Help to Buy equity loan, demonstrating the impact of this programme in helping people, particularly first time buyers into home ownership.

All of these programmes and homes contribute to overall housing supply and help to meet a range of housing needs in local communities.

HCA Chief Executive, Andy Rose, said: “The housing statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by HCA programmes in England, excluding London, with the exception of the Get Britain Building and Build to Rent programmes and Help to Buy equity loan, which the HCA administers on behalf of the Greater London Authority.”

A further 13,040 new homes were started on site, according to the latest housing statistics published by the agency this month.

The statistics show that 3,229 market homes were started, an increase of 26% compared to the same period last year. 9,811 starts (75% of the total) were for affordable homes.

This includes 653 new build homes purchased by the provider at build completion. As these have not previously been reported, excluding them allows a like for like comparison with the same period last year (9,767), which shows that starts for affordable homes were broadly steady (-6%).

This is in line with our expectations and forecasts as the final year of the Spending Period focuses on completions. The 2011 to 2015 Affordable Homes Programme accounted for 49% of starts, while the Affordable Homes Guarantees Programme accounted for 36%.

Affordable housing completions (10,631) also represented 75% of the total reported, equating to an increase of 28% on the same period last year; while the number of market homes completed (3,545) increased by 41%. Taken together, market and affordable housing completions increased by 31% relative to the same period last year.

There were a further 14,515 homes completed with the assistance of the Help to Buy equity loan, demonstrating the impact of this programme in helping people, particularly first time buyers into home ownership.

All of these programmes and homes contribute to overall housing supply and help to meet a range of housing needs in local communities.

HCA Chief Executive, Andy Rose, said: “The housing statistics present the housing starts on site and housing completions delivered by HCA programmes in England, excluding London, with the exception of the Get Britain Building and Build to Rent programmes and Help to Buy equity loan, which the HCA administers on behalf of the Greater London Authority.”

Leading offshore wind suppliers, EEW SPC of Germany and Bladt Industries of Denmark plan to invest up to £20-£25 million in TAG energy, creating up to 350 jobs in the local area.

Leading offshore wind suppliers, EEW SPC of Germany and Bladt Industries of Denmark have taken over the TAG Energy facility in Teesside.

They plan to invest up to £20-25 million to upgrade the facility into a world class manufacturing base for the offshore wind industry. It’s expected that the facility will create up to 350 direct jobs in the local area, as well as a similar number in the supply chain.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: “It’s great news that renewables manufacturing will create 350 green jobs in Teesside. We’ve been working tirelessly behind the scenes to help secure this investment and it’s more evidence that renewable energy is powering the economic recovery.

“Renewable energy is a vital part of our plans for keeping the lights on, reducing emissions, and creating thousands of green jobs and investment.

“£45 billion has been invested in the UK’s energy infrastructure since 2010 and the Energy Act will deliver 250,000 new low carbon by 2020.”

Between 2010 and 2013 £6.9 billion was invested in offshore wind and it is estimated that a further £16.2-£21.3 billion will be invested in the offshore wind sector between 2014 and 2020.

Offshore wind powers over two million UK homes and the UK is rated the best place in the world to invest in offshore wind.