The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has today announced the industry’s New Homes Week 2026 campaign will take place from 2 to 8 February with the theme 'Power to Move'.
This year's initiative features a new partnership with Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest energy supplier, plus lifestyle influencers including returning advocate Olivia Bowen and new collaborators Kirsty Gore and Tayo Oguntonade, and support from Rightmove and Zoopla.
The annual initiative will shine a light on the benefits of new build homes and, against a backdrop of affordability pressures and wider market challenges, highlight why they remain a strong option for buyers. It will showcase information and guidance to empower prospective buyers, from first-time purchasers taking their initial steps on the property ladder, to growing families seeking more space, and downsizers looking for a lower-maintenance, future-proof home.
The 2026 ‘Power to Move’ theme aims to empower would-be home purchasers to make fully-informed decisions about their next property, whether that’s brand-new vs renting or vs buying a ‘pre-loved’ property. It will bring together a roster of expert spokespeople to provide clear, trusted information that cuts through market uncertainty and motivates consumers to take their next step with confidence.
Octopus Energy will serve as the campaign’s flagship energy partner, working closely with HBF to showcase how the latest low carbon technologies, built into new builds, can deliver superior energy efficiency and substantial bill savings for households. This partnership will highlight how installing the latest green tech - like heat pumps, solar panels, and batteries - can dramatically lower bills, and potentially even eliminate them altogether, thanks to Octopus Energy’s world-first ‘Zero Bills’ tariff*.
Octopus Energy will also play a key role in an updated release of HBF’s seminal ‘Watt A Save’ report, providing data and insight from its pioneering smart tariffs and initiatives to demonstrate how new build homes equipped with cutting-edge technologies can deliver substantial energy savings and lower carbon emissions.
Rianna Fry, Director of Digital Communications at the Home Builders Federation, said: “For over two decades, New Homes Week has brought the industry together to champion the progress made in delivering high-quality, energy-efficient homes. Often, the benefits available to buyers are overlooked amidst wider market challenges. Buyer satisfaction for new builds is at record levels and new builds continue to outperform on efficiency, while home builders offer meaningful support to help households onto and up the property ladder. This year we are determined to cut through the noise and give consumers the clear, trusted information needed to make the key decisions about their move.”
Nigel Banks, Zero Bills Director at Octopus Energy, said: “Living without home energy bills is not a futuristic dream - we have hundreds of customers who are living that reality today, thanks to the latest smart tech in their new homes.
“Partnering with HBF means we can show how new homes kitted out with cutting-edge tech can deliver comfortable, sustainable living, and can even cut home energy bills down to zero.”
Alex Slater, Director - New Homes from Rightmove, said: "Everyone deserves clear, trusted information to feel empowered throughout their home-moving journey. New build homes play an important role in giving buyers more options – from energy efficiency to dedicated support. We’re excited to be supporting HBF and our new homes partners in showcasing these benefits so more home-movers can take their next step with confidence."
Olivia, Kirsty and Tayo will join homeowners and property experts across New Homes Week’s social channels throughout the week, with each day focusing on different aspects of buying new, from the dedicated support to guide you through the process to built-in energy-efficiency features and 10-year warranties for added peace of mind.
Fry adds: “Last year, through strong support from industry, New Homes Week reached more than 20 million people. We intend for this year’s campaign to build understanding of the options people have when looking to buy a new home, whether buying for the first time, moving to a bigger home, or downsizing.”
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For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, contact HBF’s communications team at media@hbf.co.uk
Notes to editors
*Launched in 2022, Octopus’ Zero Bills tariff lets customers move into homes packed with cutting-edge green tech – including a heat pump, a battery and solar panels – with no home energy bills for at least 5-10 years. EV charging is not included and is billed separately.
About New Homes Week
New Homes Week is an annual celebration of new build homes. Launched by HBF in 2005, the awareness-raising campaign provides a platform for the industry to come together to highlight the benefits of new builds – newhomesweek.co.uk
About the Home Builders Federation (HBF)
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal representative body for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. HBF member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from widely recognised national firms, through regionally-based businesses and small local companies: hbf.co.uk
Additional information
- Olivia Bowen: HBF is proud to collaborate once again with lifestyle authority Olivia Bowen. With over 3.7m followers across her personal and business accounts including The Bowen Home, Olivia brings proven credibility to New Homes Week messaging. Her authentic home and lifestyle content resonates with families at every stage, making her the perfect advocate to showcase how new homes deliver on the 'Power to Enjoy' promise of stress-free living and quality family time.
She said: “It’s great to be back working with the HBF team to highlight the many benefits of buying a new home that many aren’t aware of. Our home is the heart of our family so I know just how important it is to choose the right property – and I remember just how daunting and huge that decision can feel. Having good information really makes all the difference and New Homes Week definitely provides a valuable platform for experts and existing homeowners to share insight, experience and know-how to support people take those steps to buying a new home.”
- Tayo Oguntonade: Award-winning TV presenter and qualified mortgage advisor Tayo Oguntonade brings essential financial expertise to New Homes Week. Recognised for translating complex property and finance topics into practical advice, Tayo will address the 'Power to Buy' theme head-on, demonstrating how new homes represent smart investment decisions and helping buyers understand the financial advantages and future-proofing benefits of choosing new over old.
He said: “This is the first time I have had the opportunity to be involved with New Homes Week – it’s a true collaboration of industry-leading organisations to provide people with real insight into the reasons and options for buying new. I’m looking forward to exploring some of the financial opportunities to help people move home, especially those offered by home builders that are not available for the second-hand market.” - Kirsty Gore: Home transformation specialist Kirsty Gore, with 1.9m Instagram followers at @kjg_home, offers a unique perspective that bridges the gap between renovation dreams and new build reality. Her documented journey of home transformation and design expertise perfectly position her to explore the improved energy efficiency featured available in today’s new build homes.
She said: “I’m so excited to explore the world of new-build homes and, as we embark on our own build project, I’m genuinely curious to learn more about the modern, energy-efficient features built into today’s new homes. There’s no ‘right’ way to buy a home, and I hope this campaign shows the potential of new builds - especially for anyone who loves great design but for who a full-on renovation project isn’t the right fit. I hope this campaign helps people feel inspired, informed, and confident - whether they opt for a brand-new place or a project home.”