UPOWA partners with Greencore to future-proof 42 homes with roof-integrated solar panels in Oxfordshire
UPOWA joins forces with Greencore Homes to deliver a 262 kWp roof-integrated solar PV solution for 42 homes at its flagship development, The Canopies, located in the village of Milton Heights, Oxfordshire.
Future residents to benefit from lower energy bills and carbon emissions, with homes designed to achieve a net zero energy balance in occupation.
Strategic partnership combines Greencore’s sustainable housing with UPOWA’s end-to-end solar PV delivery service.
UPOWA has been awarded a contract to design and deliver a 262 kWp Inline Solar PV package for 42 homes in Milton Heights that are targeted to be net zero carbon in operation — the latest flagship development by leading sustainable housebuilder Greencore Homes.
The news marks the beginning of an exciting partnership between UPOWA and Greencore Homes, united by a shared mission: to deliver high-performance, sustainable homes that are ready for the future.
Called The Canopies, the project continues Greencore’s strong track record of delivering climate positive places, and homes that are designed to achieve ultra-low embodied carbon overall and a net zero energy balance in occupation.
A shared vision for creating sustainable communities
“Greencore is committed to driving forward the delivery of sustainable housing in the UK, with an ambitious target to build 10,000 of our homes that are Better Than Net Zero by 2035. We carefully select partners who share our vision for creating climate positive places where people can lead low carbon, healthy and active lives. UPOWA’s solar PV solution at Milton Heights will help deliver lower energy bills for residents while reducing environmental impact—benefiting both their budget and the planet”
Trusted solar PV delivery for homes of the future
The homes will feature sleek, MCS compliant roof-integrated solar panels, designed to blend seamlessly with the roofline while generating clean, renewable electricity from day one. UPOWA’s in-house design team carefully modelled and optimised the solar PV arrays for each home — maximising available roof space on the most efficient elevations to achieve SAP target scores, all within budget.
As a result, the PV systems are expected to meet a significant portion of household electricity demand, supporting lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions for residents.
“We’re excited to be supporting Greencore with their vision for The Canopies — a development that’s pushing the boundaries of net zero performance.
This partnership demonstrates the strength of our fully managed delivery model, backed by rigorous quality assurance. It’s a great example of how sustainable homes can be delivered at scale through true collaboration.”
“Greencore’s approach to sustainable housebuilding is setting a benchmark for the industry. The homes at The Canopies reflect the growing demand for clean energy technologies that are integrated, scalable, and add long-term value — helping Greencore to meet their sustainability targets while delivering real benefits to homeowners: lower energy bills, reduced emissions, and greater energy independence.”
Net zero construction powered by collaboration
Constructed using Greencore’s innovative closed timber frame panels and insulated with natural materials, each home is built to Passivhaus standards to ensure a low energy demand. UPOWA’s roof-integrated solar solution will complement these design principles, enabling each home to meet net zero performance targets.
With construction underway, UPOWA’s fully qualified roofing and electrical teams will begin the solar PV installations shortly across all 42 new homes — including 27 private sale properties and 15 affordable homes – with full development completion expected in Q4 2026.
This partnership demonstrates how collaboration between forward-thinking innovators like Greencore and UPOWA can fast-track the delivery of future-ready, net zero housing at scale — combining sustainable construction and integrated clean energy technology solutions.
Ready to power your next sustainable housing development?
The UK Government has confirmed that all new build homes in England will be required to have solar panels from 2027 under the Future Homes Standard Solar Mandate. For housebuilders, this presents both a regulatory and cost challenge — and a real opportunity to future-proof your homes and stay ahead of planning and buyer expectations.
At UPOWA, we’re already partnering with leading developers like Greencore Homes to deliver future-ready systems that reduce carbon, lower energy bills, and meet compliance with evolving Building Regulations. Discover how UPOWA can help you deliver high-quality, solar-ready homes — on time, on budget, and at scale. Contact our team today.
Resources
Milton Heights, Oxfordshire - Greencore Homes®
The Canopies, Milton | Greencore Homes | New Homes | Breckon & Breckon
Homes England supports Greencore Homes to build new affordable sustainable homes in Oxfordshire - GOV.UK
About Greencore Homes
Greencore Homes builds homes that are Better Than Net Zero and climate positive places.
Most housebuilders define net zero only in terms of operational carbon and energy efficiency. Greencore Homes’ method of construction and the materials used guarantees the structure of each home achieves better than zero embodied carbon. Developments are designed to achieve ultra-low embodied carbon overall and a net zero energy balance in occupation.
With significant investment from majority shareholder M&G, strong relationships with partners and an experienced senior leadership team; Greencore Homes has ambitious targets to build 10,000 homes that are Better Than Net Zero by 2035.
Greencore’s homes are built using an innovative closed timber frame panel that is insulated with natural materials including hemp, lime and natural wood fibre. The panels are assembled on site, taking approximately 2-weeks to be air and watertight. This enables fast and efficient on-site construction, minimising noise, disruption and carbon emissions.
Unlike traditional brick houses, the structure of Greencore’s homes lock up more carbon than they emit. Designed and built to Passivhaus standards, they are highly insulated to ensure a low energy demand. This is coupled with excellent ventilation for improved air quality, comfort and wellbeing. This low energy demand and the use of renewable energy sources means all new Greencore homes are designed to be net zero carbon in operation.
Greencore takes a landscape-led approach to its development and is sensitive to each location’s ecology, providing genuinely healthy living environments, applying Bioregional’s One Planet Living sustainability framework when planning climate positive places.
In 2022, M&G Investments acquired a majority stake in Greencore through its Catalyst strategy, supporting its initial growth in capacity and with a target to expand across the UK. In 2024, M&G Investments invested further equity to drive significant expansion, initially by targeting land acquisitions across the South East of England to complement existing sites underway. M&G’s real estate business plans to invest up to £500 million in partnership with Greencore for the delivery of sustainable rental and affordable housing.
Learn more: Greencore Homes