I suspect that in 10 years, new UK houses will be all electric with solar power, some form of electric heating, and electric vehicle charge point. If there is a garage, that is the obvious place to put it all.

It does not really need a walk-in room, but rather an adequate cupboard. I suspect that most people really would not want the service head and meter to be on show.

Older properties are what they are. My electrical intake (and first DB) is in the garage. The house DB is in the kitchen corridor (not my choice, but a reasonable place all things considered), the gas intake is at the back of a store cupboard, and the boiler and hot water cylinder are off the kitchen (which is sensible because water is drawn most frequently at the kitchen sink).

If we get solar panels, the inverter and battery will be in the adjacent lost space. Fortunately, there is already a suitable distribution circuit in place.

Consolidating that in one room would be a nightmare.

By the time you have made the decision about solar, BS7671 amd. 4 will have banned batteries in lofts.  The BSI are already strongly recommending against it https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/pas-63100-protection-against-fire-of-battery-energy-storage-systems/

By the time you have made the decision about solar, BS7671 amd. 4 will have banned batteries in lofts.  The BSI are already strongly recommending against it https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/pas-63100-protection-against-fire-of-battery-energy-storage-systems/

Simon, thank you - that is helpful. I assume that you are referring to article 6.5. If these batteries are so dangerous, why do we permit them at all?

Because people like having free electricity at night.  And if we're all switching to renewables, we seriously need more energy storage in the UK.

Lithium batteries don't usually catch fire spontaneously, but if a house fire reaches the lithium batteries, they are almost impossible to put out.  So that's why PAS 65100 recommends putting them somewhere safer than in the loft.

Meanwhile, the box of LG Chem batteries in my loft should be fine.  They don't seem to be from one of the batches that was recalled for spontaneously combusting.  LG Chem are noted for producing somewhat flammable battery packs - ask Chevrolet. 

Simon Barker said:

Lithium batteries don't usually catch fire spontaneously, but if a house fire reaches the lithium batteries, they are almost impossible to put out.  So that's why PAS 65100 recommends putting them somewhere safer than in the loft.

I see what you mean, but if a fire in my guest bedroom has broken through to the loft above, there is already a big problem!