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BSRIA's legislation and guidance news tracker
This free news service monitors selected regulatory, guidance and news in construction, building design and building services.

This tracker was last updated on 26/11/2020.

Highlights - recent | View all >>

A statement from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) was released on 25th November warning the UK Government to improve on the level of detail within the draft Fire Safety Bill, if it is to demonstrate that its new building safety proposals will drive much needed reform in the sector. The Bill sets out framework to implement a new building safety regime and remedy the imperfections in the existing system, as identified in the Hackitt review. Read more here.
The UK Government announced in its national Spending Review on 25th November 2020, a £7.1bn National Home Building Fund and a £12bn budget to ensure the UK reaches net zero by 2050. There is also over £12bn allocated for the Affordable Homes Programme, £475m to make public buildings greener, £150m to help homes become more energy efficient and £60m to retrofit social housing. Read more here
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) launched on 24th November 2020 an interactive map, designed to showcase leading local authority policies and programmes that address domestic energy efficiency. Read more here
The Fire Safety Bill had its third reading in the House of Lords on 24 November 2020. It will now return to the House of Commons for the amendments made by the House of Lords to be considered. Read more here.
Housing, Communities & Local Government Committee’s (HCLG) has released its report on 24th November 2020, on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill. Read more here
The UK Government announced on 23rd November 2020 that owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer require an EWS1 form to sell or re-mortgage their property. Read more here
CIAT announced a new world-wide fire safety standard on 19th November 2020, which it has co-developed with a global coalition of over 80 fire safety leadership organisations, to ensure a consistent adoption of approach to fire safety and management of buildings internationally. Read more here
The European Commission presented its Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy on 19th November, 2020. The strategy proposes to increase the EU’s offshore wind capacity from 12 GW to at least 60 GW by 2030 and to 300 GW by 2050. Read more here.
The UK Government published its summary and analysis of its Consultation on the changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, SI 2012/3118. As a result, the Government will diverge from the European Commission’s proposal and retain the existing threshold for the inspection of the energy efficiency of air-conditioning systems that have an effective rated output of more than 12kW. Read more here
Research by RICS BCIS has revealed a huge market potential for energy renovations in the UK, considering the energy savings and associated emission reductions, coupled with the potential of job creation. 18th November 2020. Read more here
The UK Government announced on 18th November 2020 that the Green Homes Grant scheme has been extended by a year to 31 March 2022. The scheme allows homeowners and residential landlords to apply for a Green Homes Grant voucher towards the cost of installing energy efficient improvements, which includes the installation of low-carbon heating. Read more here
The UK Government announced on 18th November the Prime Minister's ten point plan for a green industrial revolution, which aims to create and support up to 250,000 British jobs. The plan supports the UK’s aim of net zero by 2050 and will see £12bn of government investment. Read more here
A Consultation was launched by the UK Government’s independent Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) on 19th November, 2020, calling for evidence on modelling fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in England. The deadline for responses is 17 December 2020. Read more here
The European Commission has launched two consultations on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive. The aim of these twelve-week consultations is to seek a broad range of views on to what extent and how these two Directives should be amended. Read more here.
The House of Lords has urged the government to reconsider the Fire Safety Bill following the Bill’s report stage on 17 November 2020. The government was urged in particular to rethink building owner and manager duties, public registers of fire risk assessments and the prevention of remediation costs being passed from freeholders to tenants, and three amendments to the Bill were passed on these issues. Read more here.
The UK Government has announced that Andrew Griffith MP has been appointed as the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion to help the country’s business community to make sustainable plans to net zero by 2050 or earlier. 17th November, 2020. Read more here
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board (ARB) are calling on architects to prepare for the end of the UK-EU transition period. 17th November 2020. Read more about this and also learn about RIBA's Brexit Hub and ARB's EU Exit page, here
HM Treasury launched the bidding process to establish at least seven new freeports in England on 16th November, 2020. Freeports should ‘boost the economy,’ create thousands of jobs and ‘turbo-charge’ post-Brexit trade in all industry sectors by attracting domestic and international investment through tax reliefs and simplified customs procedures. Read more here
The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced on 16th November 2020 that, as part of a government investment package worth £22.5m, five new interdisciplinary circular economy centres will be created to help move the UK towards a circular economy, Read more here
The Local Government Association (LGA) has released a report arguing that a post-coronavirus (COVID-19) boom in social housing is required in order to combat growing council housing waiting lists. The report, Building Post-Pandemic Prosperity, contends that the building of 100,000 new social homes for rent each year would not only allow the government to meet demand for affordable homes, but also provide a £14.5bn boost to the UK economy. Read more here
ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) and CIBSE jointly publish four guidance documents as part of CIBSE's series on "Emerging from Lockdown" on 16th November 2020, focusing on the subject of ventilation, safely re-occupying buildings, lift-use and occupancy, and the recommissioning of lifts and escalators, Read more here
The UK water industry has released plans to ensure that the sector becomes carbon neutral by 2030. According to Water UK, the industry ‘could save the emission of 10 million tonnes of greenhouse gas by reaching net zero two decades ahead of the UK Government’s legally binding target of 2050’. Read more here
The Construction Leadership Council has published a report on 12th November 2020, which details the progress of the construction industry in quarter 3 (Q3) of 2020 (July 2020–September 2020). The report states that construction output grew by 2.9% in September 2020 and by 41.7% in Q3 2020. Read more here
A report from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) announces their BCIS surveys suggest that site productivity has reached 85% of pre COVID-19 levels as contractors gain experience in implementing the 'Site Operating Procedures'. 12th November 2020. Read more here
The European Commission launched a public Consultation on 11th November 2020, on an EU action plan ‘Towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil—building a Healthier Planet for Healthier People’. The zero pollution ambition is a key pillar of the European Green Deal and builds on initiatives in the fields of energy, industry, mobility, agriculture, biodiversity and climate. The deadline for responses is 10 February 2021. Read more here
SI 2020/1265 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020. Provisions have been made to establish a UK-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme (ETS) to encourage cost-effective emissions reductions, which will contribute to the UK’s emissions reduction targets and net zero goal. This Regulation was created on 11th November, 2020. Read more here
Homes England has announced on 11th November 2020, that investment delivered through the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund Forward Funding (HIF FF) has passed £1.8bn since it was launched in 2017. Read more here
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published a report on 11th November 2020, laying out its findings and recommendations from a full audit of the UK Government’s energy efficiency policies. The report states that the UK has some of the most inefficient housing in Europe and outlines the importance of addressing this to help reach net zero emissions. Read more here
Environment think tank, the Green Alliance, has published a report titled ‘Getting the building blocks right: infrastructure priorities for a green recovery’ on 11th November 2020. The report explores what infrastructure the UK needs to get back on track for net zero, arguing that progress towards a green economy will help support coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery, creating over a million jobs across the UK. Read more here.
The UK Government Cabinet Office has reissued its guidance on public sector procurement to help stakeholders prepare for the end of the transition period and beyond on 11th November, 2020. Further new and updated guidance may be issued so stakeholders are advised to monitor these pages for updates. Read more here.
The Welsh Government has announced the Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP), on 6th November 2020, which aims to transform social housing across Wales, boost the economy and encourage a new Welsh industry. The £20m programme is a 'key' element of the Welsh Government’s plans for a green recovery. Read more here
SI 2020/1217: Electricity Storage Facilities (Exemption) (England and Wales) Order 2020. Provisions have been made to remove the requirement to seek planning consent under section 36(1) of the Electricity Act 1989 for electricity storage, except pumped hydro storage, in England and Wales. This Order comes into force on 2 December 2020. Read more here
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) published a report entitled ‘Homes for all: Putting council housing at the heart of local recovery’ on 6th November, 2020. The report examines what councils should do to resume building and how they can build in a way that increases standards of design, quality and sustainability across the built environment. Read more here.
SI 2020/1221: Amendments are made to the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 on 6th November 2020. This instrument extends mandatory billing and meter accuracy requirements to all customers in buildings where metering devices are installed. These Regulations come into force on 27 November 2020. Read more here
The Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) published a summary of its report 'Four Futures, One Choice', on 4th November 2020, which will be available as an e-book in December 2020. The publication explores the actions the construction sector will need to take over the next 20 years to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Read more here
Infrastructure leaders predict a 'digitally driven post-coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery,' following a business roundtable hosted by Atkins and Infrastructure Intelligence. The report by Atkins, entitled 'Infrastructure Insights: COVID Impact and Recovery', was the foundation for the online discussion on 21 October 2020 entitled 'How can construction embrace digital innovation to accelerate the UK’s post-Covid recovery'. Read more here
SI 2020/Draft Ozone-Depleting Substances and Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (Amendment etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 was started on 4th November. This draft enactment is proposed to amend two pieces of UK secondary legislation in relation to ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated greenhouse gases in order to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies arising from the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. It comes into force immediately before IP completion day. Read more here
The UK Government has published a web page for UK businesses and organisations in the construction sector collating existing stakeholder and sectoral guidance on preparation for the end of the transition period, on 2nd November 2020. Subjects covered include importing and exporting, selling your goods, trading with the EU, workforce, data, providing services, Northern Ireland Protocol, intellectual property, access to research and development funding, chemical regulations and timber regulations. Read more here
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) announced on 4th November 2020 a £134m investment package to help businesses across the UK benefit from ground-breaking clean growth projects, which develop new technologies and secure new jobs amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Read more here
SI 2020/1179 Waste (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020 on 2nd November 2020. Provisions are made to amend certain Welsh primary and secondary legislation by bringing up to date references in the legislation to two EU Directives that have been amended as part of the European Circular Economy Package (CEP). Read more here

What's new?

Regulations | View all >>

SI 2020/1265 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Order 2020. Provisions have been made to establish a UK-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme (ETS) to encourage cost-effective emissions reductions which will contribute to the UK’s emissions reduction targets and net zero goal. This was created on 11th November, 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/1221: Amendments are made to the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 on 6th November 2020. This instrument extends mandatory billing and meter accuracy requirements to all customers in buildings where metering devices are installed. These Regulations come into force on 27 November 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/1217: Electricity Storage Facilities (Exemption) (England and Wales) Order 2020. Provisions have been made to remove the requirement to seek planning consent under section 36(1) of the Electricity Act 1989 for electricity storage, except pumped hydro storage, in England and Wales. This Order comes into force on 2 December 2020. Read more here
S SI 2020/310 Town and Country Planning, Management of Extractive Waste and Electricity Works (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020". This was created on 6th October 2020. Read more here
S SI 2020/904 The Waste (Circular Economy) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. This came into force on 1st October 2020. Read more here
The Electricity and Gas etc. (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. The Regulations amend provisions in EU Exit legislation relating to electricity and gas regulation in order to ensure that the retained EU law mentioned in those Regulations comes into force on IP completion day. This was created on 14th September 2020. Read more here
The Climate Change Agreements, CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. This was created on 8th July 2020. Read more here
S SI 2020/154 Deposit and Return Scheme for Scotland Regulations 2020. Date of release yet to be announced. Read more here
S W 2020/122 Sustainable Drainage (Approval and Adoption) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2020. This was created on 18th May and came into force on 9th June 2020. Read more here
S S1 2020/155 Environmental Regulation (Enforcement Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020. This was created on 19th May 2020. Read more here
S SI 2020/129 The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020. This was created on 23rd April 2020. Read more here
S SI 2020/draft Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 (Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2020. This was created on 16th March 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/70 c.5 The Digital Economy Act 2017 (Commencement No. 7) Regulations 2020. This was created on 28th January 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/1052 The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme and Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2019. This comes into force on 17th July 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/120 Sustainable Drainage (Enforcement) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2020. This comes into force on 4th February. Read more here
SI 2020/115 Carbon Accounting (Provision for 2018) Regulations 2020. This comes into force on 28th February 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/116 The Electricity and Gas (Standards of Performance) (Suppliers) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. This came into force on 1st May 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/96 Electricity and Gas (Internal Markets) Regulations 2020. This came into force on 25th February 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/116 Utilities Act 2000 (Amendment of Section 105) Order 2020. This came into force on 10th March 2020. Read more here
SI 2020/0000 The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. The Regulations are due to come into force on 1st April 2020. Read more here
SSI 2019/436 Environment (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment etc) (No 2) Regulations 2019. This was created on 17th December 2019. Read more here
SI 2019/1499 Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2019. This was created on 13th December 2019 and came into force on 13th January 2020. Read more here

Legislation (Bill or Act) View all Bills>> | View all Acts>>

Act: The Coronavirus Act
This came into law on 25th March 2020, enabling many provisions to allow business, including the building planning sector and related industries, to operate effectively. For example, use of photographic evidence instead of site visits and use virtual planning committees for building control decisions have been approved. Read more here
Bill: Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill'
Scotland becomes the first country in the UK to legislate on the development of heat networks to help meet climate change targets and tackle fuel poverty. The Bill is proposed for an Act of the Scottish Parliament, which will make provision for regulating the supply of thermal energy by a heat network, and for regulating the construction and operation of a heat network Read more here
Bill: Environment Bill
A post Brexit Environment Bill was announced on 31st January 2020. The Bill focuses on 'improving air quality, protecting nature, increasing recycling and cutting down plastic waste.' The Public Committee Reading has now been postsponed until 25th June 2020. Read more here
Bill: Fire Safety Bill
A new Fire Safety Bill has been introduced by the UK Government, on 19th March 2020. The proposed Fire Safety Bill is a response to the Grenfell Tower Fire on 14 June 2017. It will amend the Fire Safety Order 2005 to clarify that the responsible person or duty-holder for multi-occupied, residential buildings must manage and reduce the risk of fire for: 1) The structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows; and 2) Entrance doors to individual flats that open into common parts. The bill will also provide a foundation for secondary legislation to take forward recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase one report. Read more here
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

Consultations | View all >>

Consultation: The Green Building Council
A Consultation on the guidance for procuring renewable energy and carbon offsets. As part of its development of a Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework, UKGBC has drafted further guidance on renewable energy procurement and carbon offsetting for businesses in an effort to ensure that the framework is used consistently and aligns with best practice. The draft guidance looks mainly at renewable energy procurement for electricity, heating and domestic hot water, carbon offsetting and carbon accounting. The Consultation ran between 27th October - 17 November 2020. Read more here
Consultation: UK Government
A Consultation on 'Energy Performance of Buildings: changes to The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations 2012, No. 3118'
The UK Government is seeking views on the proposed changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 to transpose part of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive ((EU) 2018/844). The Consultation runs from 19th May to 14th July 2020. Read more here.
Consultation: UK Government
A Consultation on 'Future support for low carbon heat' in the UK opened on 28th April 2020 and closes on 7th July 2020. The UK Government is seeking views on options for the future support for low carbon heat, beyond the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Read more here
Consultation: National Grid
Electricity System Operator launches Electricity Ten Year Statement for 2020. The National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has published a consultation document explaining the structure of the 2020 Electricity Ten Year Statement (ETYS). The ETYS is included in the annual electricity transmission planning cycle and highlights the future transmission requirements of bulk power transfer capability likely to be adopted by the National Electricity System. The consultation ends on 15 May 2020 at 5pm. Read more here
Consultation: European Commission
The European Commission has launched a public online Consultation inviting all stakeholders and citizens to submit their views on the 2030 climate ambition set by the EU. The Consultation is open from 31 March 2020 to 23 June 2020. Read more here
Consultation: UK Government
This Consultation review the use of combustible materials in external walls of buildings, which was started in January 2020 has been extended until 25th May 2020. Read more here
Consultation: House building statistics: proposed changes
This Consultation is seeking views on making changes to the content and focus of the long running House building; new build dwellings statistics series The Consultation runs from 26th March to 26th May 2020. Read more here
Consultation: Heat networks: building a market framework
This Consultation seeks views on policy options for the development of a regulatory framework for heat networks to protect consumers, support market growth and develop low carbon networks. This Consultation runs from 6th February to 1st May 2020. Read more here
Consultation: First Homes
This consultation seeks views on First Homes for local people, considering both the design of this policy and options for its implementation. The Consultation runs from 7th February 2020 - 3rd April 2020. Read more here
Consultation: Environmental Agency launches consultation for new guidance tackling chemical waste
The Environment Agency (EA) has announced a consultation relating to its new proposed guidance regarding the facilities that handle chemical waste. The EA has outlined the aims of the guidance, citing improvements to the design and operation of facilities within the chemical waste sector as a key objective. The EA intend to ensure that the appropriate measures for permitted facilities are applied consistently. The consultation is open to relevant stakeholders and will close on 6 April 2020. Read more here
Consultation: Fire safety: risk prioritisation in existing buildings – a call for evidence
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched a consultation on fire risk prioritisation in existing buildings. Views are sought on the assessment and prioritisation of fire safety risks and on how to improve the understanding of building risk, to ensure an appropriate level of safety in existing buildings. The consultation closes on 17 February 2020. Read more here
Consultation: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and International Fire Safety Standard (IFSS) have collaborated with a coalition of over 70 international organisations to develop a new fire safety global standard called 'Fire Safety Standard Common Principles'. A Consultation was launched start the project and will end on 23rd March 2020. Read more here
Consultation: The BIM Alliance is looking for industry feedback to their latest BIM guidance titled 'Guidance Part 2: Processes for Project Delivery' (Third Edition). The guide was published in support of the international ISO 19650 BIM standards. It has also announced that the Construction Industry Council has agreed to release an updated BIM Protocol. The framework is being sponsored by CIC, BSI, CDBB and UK BIM Alliance . Read more here
Consultation: Cash retentions in Scottish public and private sector construction contracts
The Scottish government has opened a consultation seeking comment on the practice of cash retention in public and private sector construction contracts in Scotland. The Consultation runs from 4th December 2019 to 25th March 2020. Read more here
Consultation: Request for comment on BIM Guideline and Guidance
This offers a BIM (building informatino modelling) guideline for the implementation of BEP and EIR which is based on EN ISO 19650 and CEN/TR Guidance for understanding and using EN ISO 29481-1. Read more here
Consultation on the amendments to Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations for new dwellings for Wales.
The Consultation ran from 19th January 2020 to 12th March 2020. Read more here

Guidance | View all>>

The UK BIM Framework has published its fourth edition of 'Guidance Part 2: Processes for Project Delivery'. This was published on on 30th April 2020 and is designed to help practitioners in the UK to implement building information modelling (BIM). Read more here
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published its annual update on air quality on 23rd April 2020, detailing concentrations of major air pollutants in the UK for 2019. Read more here
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) updates its guide , 'The Policy Playbook: Driving sustainability in new homes - a resource for local authorities,' to include a revised chapter on designing acoustics in new buildings. Read more here
New circular economy action plan has been published for Europe. On 11 March 2020, as part of the EU’s European Green Deal, the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). Read more here
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) offers guidance on site operating procedures during the coronavirus pandemic, aimed at protecting the workforce and minimising the spread of infection. March 2020. Read more here
Government guidance outlines procedure for reporting fluorinated gases. Two documents relating to fluorinated gases (F gas) and ozone depleting substances (ODS) have been published. In one document, the Defra and the Environment Agency have provided guidance on how to comply with F gas and ODS regulations from 1 January 2021. Read more here
The other publication deals with how to trade during the transition period. Read more here
The London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) has published 'Climate Emergency Design Guide: How new buildings can meet UK climate change targets'. The guide outlines requirements for new buildings to ensure climate change targets are met. Read more here
RIBA has published guidance on targeting, designing and evaluating sustainable outcomes for buildings, that correspond to key UN Sustainable Development Goals and can be delivered on building projects of all scales.defining a concise measurable set of eight sustainable outcomes. Read more here
The UK Government has release a report: 'Living with beauty: report of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission' to promote and increase the use of high-quality design for new build homes and neighbourhoods. Read more here
The BIM Alliance is looking for industry feedback to the latest BIM guidance in to support of the implementation of new international ISO 19650 BIM standards. It also announced that the Construction Industry Council has agreed to release an updated BIM Protocol. The framework is being sponsored by CIC, BSI, CDBB and UK BIM Alliance . Read more here
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has announced energy reduction targets for offices to support its earlier publication "‘Net Zero Carbon Buildings: A Framework Definition (April 2019)." These targets were announced on 14th January 2020. Read more here
British Standards and ECA has announced an update on 3rd February 2020 to the 18th Editions of the Wiring Regulations BS 7671: 2018. The update contains the updated Section 722 (Electric Vehicle Charging Installations), Amendment 1 and comes into effect immediately. Amendment 1 follows advances in technology enabling a more practical solution for electric vehicle charging installations. Read more here.

Policy and strategy | View all>>

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has issued further guidance for Building Control Bodies in relation to operation during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Guidance was [published on 21st April 2020 and covers
new/temporary healthcare buildings and related facilities, as well as general guidance for operating during the current period. The changes are designed to enable essential building work to be carried out quickly, ‘without undue administrative burden’, while maintaining essential health and safety requirements. Read more here
International Energy Agency releases Global Energy Review amid coronavirus (COVID-19) on 30th April, 2020. According to the IEA, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic ‘has major implications for global economies, energy use and CO2 emissions’ and its analysis of ‘daily data through mid-April [2020] shows that countries in full lockdown are experiencing an average 25% decline in energy demand per week and countries in partial lockdown an average 18% decline’. Read more here
Renewable Heat Incentive schemes to change under government plans.
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published a notice on 28th April 2020 detailing the changes to be made to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes. Principal among the changes are the extension of the domestic RHI scheme for an additional year until 31 March 2022, and the introduction of a new flexible allocation of tariff guarantees under the non-domestic RHI scheme. Read more here
The Scottish Government has released guidance on 7th April for the construction sector in Scotland during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The guidance confirms that work on construction sites in Scotland should stop unless it is supporting an essential project during coronavirus. Read more here
The Welsh Government has provided guidance on 23rd April for building control bodies during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. There is also guidance for building control bodies on operating on non-healthcare related buildings during the pandemic. Read more here
The Construction Leadership Council has launched a Construction Industry Task Force on 4th April to provide a focal point for co-ordinating the industry response to Covid19. Read more here
UK Government Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP sets out proposals to 'bring Britain’s planning system into the 21st century' (12th March). Key plans include: 1) encouraging developers encouraged to build upwards and above stations; 2) creating a new map of brownfield sites to make the most of unused land; and 3) a proposal to turn disused buildings into homes more quickly. Read more here
The Spring Budget 2020, 11th March 2020. A review of the budget and what it means for UK infrastructure, house-building and planning. The government announced a new £1bn building safety fund in the Spring Budget, to fund the removal and replacement of unsafe non-ACM cladding on buildings 18m and over in both the private and social sectors.Read more about the Budget here (PDF);
and read more about the building safety fund here
The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has released its Annual Monitoring Report which sets out the priorities for the government throughout 2020. The report outlines the NIC's views on the government’s progress against its recommendations in 2019 and its priorities for the government throughout 2020. Read more here
Ofgem publishes Decarbonisation Action Plan: 'Rewiring Britain for a net zero future'. The strategy includes: building a system that supports the growth of renewables and ten million electric vehicles on our roads by 2030; supports development of an offshore grid to enable a four-fold increase in offshore wind generation by 2030; and also sets up an innovation fund focused on unlocking investment in innovative solutions to tackle climate change
The government has pledged a £90m package for renewable energy in an effort to bring down CO2 emissions from homes and heavy industry. The government hopes to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% and to remove 3.2 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere by utilising local energy projects throughout the UK. This new investment includes funding for Europe’s first hydrogen plants, which could generate enough energy to heat 200,000 homes. Read more here
New protections for thousands of consumers on heat networks. The Government announced plans on 6th February 2020 for new protections for households on heat networks, making sure customers are paying a fair price and getting a good service. Read more here
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has amended the Clean Air Zone Framework. The framework contains the principles elaborated on by Defra that local authorities should follow when setting up Clean Air Zones. The changes concern the minimum classes and standards for Clean Air Zones which divide the road transport into four classes. Local authorities are expected to use the most recent version. Read more here
The government has published its response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's Phase 1 report published on 21st January 2020, which presents recommendations for actions already taken and to be taken by the government, the London Fire Brigade and all Fire and Rescue Services. Read more here
A new Government Innovation Council has commenced, the new Regulatory Horizon Council, which is a government-backed committee to ensure that UK regulation keeps pace with innovation and enables it to thrive while safeguarding the public. Read more here
Housing Secretary announces the new Building Safety Regulator within the Health and Safety Executive, to be established immediately. Government committed to delivering the biggest change in building safety for a generation. Building owners who have not taken action to make their buildings safe will be named from March 2020. Read more here
The Scottish government has announced that new regulations will be developed to require all new homes to use renewable or low carbon heating from 2024. This will happen alongside the phasing in of renewable and low carbon heating systems to non-domestic buildings given consent to build from 2024. The new initiatives form part of Scotland’s efforts to tackle climate change. Read more here
The UK Government has announced plans to publish a national infrastructure strategy
This will set out the details of the its pledge to invest £100bn in infrastructure. The strategy will also set out the government’s long-term ambitions across ‘all areas of economic infrastructure, including transport, local growth, decarbonisation, digital infrastructure, infrastructure finance and delivery. 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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