E.ON Next and Cotswold Oak Homes launch first ‘Lower Bills, Built In’ development to deliver predictable, low-cost energy for new build homes

E.ON Next has announced the first development to feature its new Lower Bills, Built In (LBBI) proposition, working with Cotswold Oak Homes to give new‑build buyers low, predictable monthly energy costs through integrated, connected home energy technologies.

The first LBBI site will launch at Avalon Grove in Badsey, Worcestershire, a 35‑home development that reflects Cotswold Oak’s commitment to creating carefully considered homes that balance quality, sustainability and long term affordability for modern families across the regions it builds in. The partnership aims to show how solar PV, battery storage, and smart controls – installed as part of the building process – can work together to deliver an affordable fixed, stable energy bill from day one.

Homebuyers in Badsey will have access to a £25 per month fixed electricity tariff that includes solar panels plus a battery, both managed through E.ON Next’s Home Energy Management System (HEMS).

Future LBBI developments are planned to include an optional EV bolt-on to provide charging for up to 10,000 miles per year. Expanded Heat & Power options – including air source heat pumps – are already being prepared for future sites, again with fixed monthly costs to make energy simple and more affordable.

All technologies on the site are optimised by a central HEMS, managed through the E.ON Home app, enabling households to use more of their own renewable generation, avoid price volatility and benefit from a simple, predictable energy experience.

Chris Norbury, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: “This isn’t a niche upgrade for a handful of high-spec homes, it’s a scalable solution for the many, not the few.
"Lower Bills, Built In shows what happens when smart technology is designed around people. By turning solar, battery storage and other connected assets into a simple, fixed monthly bill, we’re giving families certainty and helping developers to future‑proof homes as building standards tighten.”

Russell Houghton, Operations Director at Cotswold Oak Homes, added: “We’re proud to be the first developer to bring ‘Lower Bills, Built In’ to life. Avalon Grove is a perfect testbed – these are real homes for real families, with typical plot sizes and layouts. We believe responsible housebuilding means looking beyond the day of completion and thinking about how our homes will perform for families over many years.
“Being able to offer buyers a predictable, fixed cost energy package is a powerful advantage, and we’re excited to work with E.ON Next to shape how LBBI can be applied across future sites.”

Unlike many premium ‘zero bills’ style developments that rely on large roof areas or expensive oversized systems, LBBI has been deliberately designed with a modular approach to enable it to be fitted in the majority of UK houses.

It offers developers a practical route to delivering clear savings on energy bills for buyers and a way to meet expected changes to building regulations, especially as expectations rise around the Future Homes Standard and rooftop solar adoption.

LBBI provides a ready-made blueprint for regulatory demands. With rooftop solar becoming increasingly common under existing and expected building regulations, LBBI ensures that mandated assets are used to deliver meaningful benefits: affordability, predictability and enhanced self-consumption, all backed by long term product warranties from E.ON’s specialist new-build installer, Eco2Solar.

Groundworks at Avalon Grove are scheduled to begin in March 2026. The pilot will deliver a carefully considered mix of energy efficient homes, including two, three and four-bedroom house types designed to suit a broad range of household needs. Homes will range in size from approximately 627sq ft to 1,750sq ft, combining practical internal layouts with high performance building fabric and low carbon technology.

The development will comprise a blend of private open market homes alongside opportunities for shared ownership first homes and low-cost homes, ensuring the project reflects both local housing demand and the ambitions of the Local Building for the Future initiative.

E.ON Next and Cotswold Oak Homes will capture detailed operational performance data, customer feedback and technical learning throughout construction and occupation. This evidence led approach will inform the design and delivery of future LBBI schemes already in planning, which are expected to include a wider variety of house types, tenure models and scalable low carbon solutions across multiple sites.

These insights will help shape additional LBBI projects already in planning, spanning a wider mix of home types and configurations.