[costellj]

Here's the definitive answer you are looking for:

New homes built under the pre-2006 Building Regulations are not exempt and will require a HIP. New homes marketed "off-plan" before they are physically complete will not have a full Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as these can only produced following a physical inspection of a completed building. In these cases, the HIP will contain a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA).

It's all change in April:

This changes in April when software becomes available for assessors to conduct Predicted Energy Certificates (PECs) instead. Then all marketed properties – including those purchased off plan - will need HIPs.

Hope this helps,

Jim