Homes with sustainable solutions such as solar panels are more attractive to buyers than those with gardens according to new research.

The survey – conducted by Censuswide on behalf of E.On – found that 89% of prospective homeowners have become more interested in homes with low carbon technology than those with a garden (80%), en-suite bathroom (50%) and walk in wardrobe (27%).

And when asked which features they’d look for to keep energy bills low in a new home, 47% chose solar panels and 37% intelligent heating.

In addition, over a third of those surveyed (38%) said that solar panels would be the feature they’d be most willing to invest their money in.

Broadcaster and architectural designer Charlie Luxton said the research shows how “we’re prioritising sustainable solutions in and around the home”, with people “naturally becoming more aware and conscious of their impact on the environment” due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Indeed, 49% of prospective buyers said that spending more time at home during the past few months has resulted in them considering buying a home that is more sustainable, with reasons given including lower energy bills (65%), being more conscious of the environment (52%) and wanting to reduce their impact on the planet (50%).

These new findings come after research released by EffectiveHome.co.uk in August found that solar PV can boost the value of houses by an average of £32,459 across the UK.

Residential solar is showing signs of bouncing back following the lockdown, with June recording a 185% increase compared with May, and installations in July and August 5% higher than the same months in 2019. This came after an MCS survey in April that found that 90% of installers were being negatively impacted by COVID-19.