Legislation

BSRIA's Legislation and Guidance Tracker
This free news service monitors selected regulatory and guidance news in construction and building services. 

This tracker was last updated on 24/11/2019.

Highlights - recent | View all >>

• New Government Soft Landings guidance aligned with BIM framework
  The Government Soft Landings guidance has been updated in order to align it with the UK’s building information modelling framework (including ISO 19650 and BS 8536) and industry best practice. Read more here
  
  
• BRE helped to launch Home of 2030 competition to address the grand challenges of future housing needs on 4th November 2019. Read more here
  
  
• Government introduces ground-breaking Environment Bill
  The Government has published a landmark Environment Bill (15th October), which aims to tackle the biggest environmental priorities of our time, signalling a historic step change in the way we protect and enhance our natural environment. Read more here
  
  
• The UK Government has responded to the Select Committee’s report on ‘Building regulations and fire safety—consultation response and connected issues’, following the Grenfell Tower incident. (Published 18th July 2019.) Key actions taken by the government in response to the Committee’s recommendations include: consultations on reforming building safety regulations, a full technical review of aspects of fire safety in building regulations and fire safety guidance, a new ‘name and shame’ response to non-compliance, and the removal of unsafe ACM cladding on the majority of social sector residential buildings by the end of 2019. Read a summary of the response here

What's new?

Regulations | View all >>

• SI 019/2024 Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2024 of 1 October 2019 laying down ecodesign requirements for refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance). Read more here
  
  
• SI 2019/1141 Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) (Amendment) Order 2019. This was created on 30th October 2019 and due to come into force on 1st January 2020. Read more here
  
  
• SI 2019/1440  Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2019. This was created on 30th October 2019. Read more here
  
  
• SI 2019/1443  The Waste and Environmental Protection (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. This was created on 1st November 2019 and comes into force on 21st November and 1st May 2019. Read more here

Legislation (Bill or Act)

• Bill: Domestic Premises (Energy Performance) Bill [HL] 2019-20
  A Bill to require the Secretary of State to ensure that domestic properties have a minimum energy performance rating of C on an Energy Performance Certificate; to make provision regarding performance and insulation of new heating systems in existing properties; and for connected purposes. Read more here
  
  
• Act: Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 
  This Act amends the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to make provision setting targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions . Read more here
  
  
• Bill: Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill [HL] 2019-20
  A Bill to establish the right to breathe clean air; to require the Secretary of State to achieve and maintain clean air in England and Wales. This Private Member's Bill had its first reading on 22nd October 2019 and its second is to be announced.  Read more here
• Bill: Environment Bill 2019-20
  A Bill to make provision about targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment The first reading was on 15th October 2019 and the second reading is due on 28th October 2019.  Read more here
• Bill: UK Government: Clean Air (No. 3) Bill 2017-19. A Bill to establish a right to breathe clean air; to make provision about reducing air pollution. Private member’s Bill presented on 2nd October 2019. First reading on 2nd October, the second reading is to be announced.  Find more here
• Bill: Low Carbon Domestic Heating Bill 2017-19. Read more here
• Bill: Digital Economy Act 2017 (Amendment) Bill [HL] 2017-19. Read more here
• Bill: Ground Rents (Leasehold Properties) Bill 2017-19. Read more here.
• Bill: Climate Change (Net Zero UK Carbon Account) Bill 2017-19. Read more here.
• Bill: Domestic Energy Efficiency Plan Bill 2017-19. Read more here

Consultations

• UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has launched a consultation seeking comment on proposals for energy performance targets for commercial offices. This Consultation runs from 14th October to 8th November 2019. Read more here
  
  
• The planning system for electricity storage: follow up consultation
  This consultation ran from 15th October to 10th December 2019. Read more here
  
  
• Non-domestic Private Rented Sector minimum energy efficiency standards: future trajectory to 2030
  This consultation ran from 15th October to 17th January 2020. Read more here
  
  
• Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014: proposed amendments. 
  This Consultation ran from 17th October 2019 to 12th December 2019. Read more here
  
  
• The Future Homes Standard: changes to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings. 
  This Consultation ran from 1st October 2019 to 10th January 2020. Read more here
  
  
• Ofgem to consult on modifications to Smart Meter Installation Code of Practice. 
  This runs from 24th September to 8th October 2019. Read more here
  
  
• The £315 million Industrial Energy Transformation Fund is finalising its design of its project objectives, which will help industry to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.  The Consultation is seeking views on the final design and runs from 10th October to 21st November 2019.   Read more here
  
  
• Homelessness Reduction Act 2017: call for evidence

  The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) have opened a call for evidence into the Homelessness Reduction Act. This Consultation runs from 18th - 27th September 2019. Read more here.

Guidance

• Leading construction body, CONIAC, launches work at height guide for construction workers called "Safety Steps" on 18th November 2019.  Read more here
• ARUP has published a new guide "Rediscovering Heritage Lighting" to help transform heritage buildings and landmarks through the medium of light. Read more here
• A new guide from UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB), supported by NHBC Foundation, explaining where moisture comes from and identifies actions you can take to maintain the right moisture balance in the home. Read more here
• New Government Soft Landings guidance aligned with BIM framework
  The Government Soft Landings guidance has been updated in order to align it with the UK’s building information modelling framework (including ISO 19650 and BS 8536) and industry best practice. Read more here
  
  
• EEA: The European Environment Agency 
  has published a guidance report “Paving the way for a circular economy: insights on status and potentials,” EEA Report No 11/2019,  on 1st October 2019.  Read more here
  
  
• RICS: Fire safety for Landlords. 
  RICS releases guide clearly explaining landlords and tenants' fire safety responsibilities. The short, impartial guide covers houses, apartments, flats and maisonettes for both landlords and the general public. Read more here
  
  RICS: The International Construction Measurement Standards (ICMS) Coalition
   has published the second edition of the ICMS standard. This edition has been revised and extended to incorporate the part played by life cycle costs in critical decisions about 'the importance of capital and longer-term costs that ultimately affect asset performance, longevity, disaster resilience and sustainability'. Read more here
  
  
• UK Government: Guidance: An updated version of the National Design Guide
  was announced at the Conservative Conference on 4th October 2019. This new design guide will introduce a national standard on house building for local authorities to adhere to. Read more here 

Policy and strategy

• Government introduces ground-breaking Environment Bill
  The Government has published a landmark Environment Bill (15th October), which aims to tackle the biggest environmental priorities of our time, signalling a historic step change in the way we protect and enhance our natural environment. Read more here
  
  
• BRE helped to launch Home of 2030 competition to address the grand challenges of future housing needs on 4th November 2019. Read more here
  
  
• Environmental ambition for building council
  The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has released a sector ambition statement, in partnership with UKGBC members, announcing that ‘by 2030, all buildings and infrastructure will, throughout their lifetime, be climate resilient and maximise environmental net gains. Read more here
  
  
  
• UK Government: The Prime Minister has announced that he will chair a new Cabinet Committee on Climate Change
  
  The Committee aims to be at the helm of strategies concerning meeting the net zero emissions target by 2050, as well as contributing to wider international actions to combating climate change. Under the committee, ministers in charge of domestic and international climate policy will be brought together and departments will be held accountable in relation to their efforts to address climate change. Read more here
  
  
• UK Government: The government has responded to the Select Committee’s report on ‘Building regulations and fire safety—consultation response and connected issues’, following the Grenfell Tower incident.
  
  Some key points raised by the government in response to the Committee’s recommendations include consultations currently open and earlier in 2019 on reforming building safety regulations, a full technical review of aspects of fire safety in building regulations and fire safety guidance, and a new ‘name and shame’ response to non-compliance.
  
  
• London Fire Brigade: Urgent research needed to minimise the risk of and improve responses to high-rise fires
  
  The London Fire Commissioner has issued a call for government to take stronger action and undertake urgent research on ‘buildings that fail’ on fire safety, which renders the advice to ‘stay put’ unviable. The Commissioner has called for a total ban on combustible cladding and for sprinklers to be fitted in a much wider range of buildings, such as purpose-built blocks of flats. Read more here
  
  
• WGBC: A newly-published climate action roadmap by the World Building Council
  
  has set out the 36 most viable solutions to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The solutions range from electric bikes to commercial shipping reform and reduced red meat consumption, all of which have the potential to scale rapidly so the world’s greenhouse gas emissions can reach net-zero by 2050. Global greenhouse gases must be cut to 50% by 2030. Read more here
  
  
• UK Government The government has responded to a report by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
  
  on modern methods of construction. Its response includes a foreword by the Housing Minister and goes on to outline the government’s progress and addresses the 21 recommendations outlined earlier by the committee. Read more here
  
  
• MHCLG: UK Government publishes circular letter on fire spread directed at building control bodies
  

  The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has published a circular letter regarding the application of requirement B4 of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2214. The letter is directed at building control bodies and discusses the risk of fire spread over the external walls of a building, especially in low-rise buildings. The letter also confirms that building control bodies should use judgement to consider the overall intent of requirement B4 of SI 2010/2214, and not just simply comply with specific guidance. Read more here

MORE FOR MEMBERS

• For our tracker with a list of all Legislation (Acts and Bills), Consultations Regulations and Guidance relevant to buildings and building services, updated in 2019, click here
• For our tracker with a selected list of Guidance supporting legislation published in 2019, click here.
• A simple spreadsheet with a list of current legislation, regulations and guidance sorted by construction and building services area is also available on request. Please email us.
  Please note this is updated regularly but not every week, so may not have the latest information.

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