Legislation and News Monitor
BSRIA monitors selected regulations, policies, guidance, and related news in construction, building design, and building services in the United Kingdom.
Source data courtesy of Lexis Nexis, Government and industry-related resources. This list was last updated on 20/08/2024.
- 12/08/24___The Planning Inspectorate has announced a three-phase publication plan for updating its Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects advice collection. The first phase was published on 8 August 2024, (see below). The second phase of updates, expected to be published later this year, will cover transboundary impacts and processes, cumulative effects assessments, the habitats regulations assessment, the water framework directive, and working with public bodies. The third phase of updates will comprise a separate advice page on environmental statements, updated advice on the environmental impact assessment process, revised advice on the drafting of development consent orders, and new advice on achieving good design in NSIPs. Official content here.
- 08/08/24___The Planning Inspectorate has published and added 12 new advice notes to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects advice pages, forming part of a collection that was first published in March 2024. These notes are intended to inform applicants, consultees, the public, and others about a range of process matters in relation to the Planning Act 2008. Find more here.
- 07/08/24___The Building Safety Regulator has released data which indicates an increase in the number of building inspector registrations in England and Wales. BSR Head of Building Control Professional Standards, Ged Cooper, commented that ‘we are encouraged by this steady increase in numbers and are pleased to see a consistent level of success in Class 2 and Class 3 and it’s heartening that a high proportion are also Class 4 technical managers. We expect to see this positive progress continue'. Read more here.
- 07/08/24___Building Safety Act 2022 (Amendment Notices Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/850: These Regulations are made to make transitional provision in relation to the coming into force of the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings established by the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). They came into force on 6 August 2024. Read the official version of this legislation.
- 06/08/24___Construction Leadership Council and Building Safety Regulator meet to discuss building control applications. A Q&A from the BSR can be accessed here.
- 06/08/24___The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government writes letter to stakeholders about the government's plan to build homes:
Letter from the Deputy Prime Minister to local authorities: Playing your part in building the homes we need.
Letter from the Housing Minister to stakeholders: Building the homes we need. - 05/08/24___MHCLG updates guidance on non-determination applications for higher-risk buildings procedures. Changes to Section 30(A) of the Building Act 1984. Chief Planner’s planning update newsletter for August 2024 was published. Read it here.
- 31/07/24___MHCLG publishes policy statement on new generation of new towns. To implement and support the new towns programme, the government has established a new independent New Towns Taskforce. The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has appointed Sir Michael Lyons as the Taskforce Chair, supported by Deputy Chair, Dame Kate Barker. You can find the Policy statement on new towns here and more about the Expert taskforce to spearhead a new generation of new towns, here.
- 30/07/24___MHCLG launches consultation on proposed reforms to NPPF. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is also seeking views on a series of wider policy proposals in relation to local plan intervention criteria, increasing planning fees, and appropriate thresholds for certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. The consultation closes on 24 September 2024. Responses to the consultation can be submitted online or by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk
- 05/07/24___Built environment industry responds to general election 2024.
The Association for Consultancy and Engineering - ACE and EIC addressed the Labour party on winning the UK general election
The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) - REA welcomes new Labour Government
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) - CIOB reacts to UK General Election result
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) - New Labour Government offers hope to tackle housing crisis, says FMB
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) - ‘This is a monumental moment’: RIBA responds to General Election result
The Royal Institution of Charted Surveyors (RICS) - UK General Election – a new government for the built and natural environment
- 04/07/24___Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024. An Act of the Scottish Parliament as introduced to confer on the Scottish Ministers powers to identify external wall cladding systems on residential buildings that create or exacerbate risks to human life and to address those risks; to establish a register to record that a building’s cladding has been assessed and that remediation works have been completed; to enable one or more schemes to be established to require persons in the building industry to contribute towards assessing and remediating dangerous cladding; and for connected purposes. Read the explanatory notes here.
- 01/07/24___RICS comments on political parties’ responses to the construction sector. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has commented on the general election manifestos, analysing their responses to infrastructure, construction and the skills shortage and has noted that the general election manifestos of the various political parties did not consider a proposal for the cabinet-level appointment of a dedicated construction minister and did not include a specific reference to the introduction of a Built Environment GCSE in England, as recommended by the House of Lords Built Environment Committee. RICS also stated that the next government must adopt a multifaceted approach to address the skills crisis and invest in green skills to drive sustainable innovation and improve productivity. Full content here.
- 24/06/24___Welsh Government publishes BSA 2022 Handbook. The Welsh Government has published a handbook detailing the changes to building control for the Design and Construction Phase in relation to the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). It explains the background of BSA 2022, how it is being implemented in Wales as well as the core changes to the building control process. The handbook is accessible here.
- 21/06/24___BPF publishes new planning and carbon manifestos. The British Property Federation (BPF)'s new planning manifesto, ‘Building More, Building Better’, calls on the incoming government to improve existing structures and policies to develop a planning system that functions efficiently, quickly, and with certainty, ensuring productivity and sustainability in the UK. BPF’s carbon manifesto, ‘Building a Sustainable Future’, appeals to the incoming government to work with the building industry to create a comprehensive net zero carbon roadmap for the real estate sector across all asset classes and tenures, covering existing and new buildings.
- 19/06/24___RICS comments on political parties’ approaches to the planning sector. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has commented on and analysed the general election manifestos of various political parties, focusing on their approaches to development, planning, and the natural environment. RICS recognises that achieving a balance between the protection of the natural environment and developing it for the future is a key challenge in the upcoming election. Land & Rural Manifesto overview.
- 12/06/24___Building (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/742: Amendments are made to the Building Regulations 2010 (the Building Regulations), SI 2010/2214, as they apply in relation to Wales. The Building Regulations, SI 2010/2214 include requirements for automatic fire suppression systems to be installed in care homes for adults. These Regulations come into force on 17 December 2024. Read the official version.
- 17/05/24___DLUHC publishes update to energy performance of buildings notice of approval. The notice of approval sets out the approved national calculation methodologies for calculating energy performance. The update provides clarification on the devolved aspects of approving the methodology and does not affect the calculation methodology. Comes into effect on 17 May 2024 (check it here), replacing the notice of approval published in June 2022.
- 15/05/24___Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/640: Amendments are made to the disclosure provisions in the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, SI 2012/3118, to enable greater access to data about the energy performance of buildings, including data which is collected during the assessment process but which is not lodged on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register (the register). These Regulations come into force on 24 June 2024. Official version here.
- 15/05/24___Building (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/645: Amendments are made to the Building Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2214, to ensure provision is made for specific types of toilet accommodation in all new buildings other than dwellings and a small number of exemptions (set out in section 6.5). These Regulations come into force on 1 October 2024. Official version here.
- 01/05/24___DLUHC publishes guidance on NSIP consent processes. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) has published guidance on the development consent process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP). Planning Act 2008: Pre-application stage for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects; Planning Act 2008: Pre-examination stage for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects; Planning Act 2008: Fast-track process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
- 01/05/24___Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc) (England) (Amendment) Order 2024. SI 2024/579: This Order makes changes to permitted development rights that allow for agricultural development and the change of use of agricultural buildings to flexible commercial uses and dwellinghouses. The changes will provide greater planning flexibility to encourage rural growth, housing delivery and support the agricultural sector. It comes into force on 21 May 2024. Read the official version of this legislation.
- 08/04/24___Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/474: These Regulations provide miscellaneous corrections to the Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc) (England) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/110. They come into force partially on 6 April 2024 and fully on 30 April 2024. These Regulations are made to correct errors in SI 2024/110 to ensure those Regulations work as intended.
- 05/04/24___Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) (No 2) (England) Regulations 2024.SI 2024/453: These Regulations are made to amend the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, SI 2015/595 to set out what information local planning authorities should include in their planning enforcement register in respect of enforcement warning notices. They also amend the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990, SI 1990/1519 to set out the procedure which applies should a person served with a listed building temporary stop notice in England claim compensation. They come into force on 25 April 2024.
- 05/04/24___Building Safety Act 2022 (Commencement No 5 and Consequential Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/447: These Regulations are also made to amend the Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2215, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, SI 2005/1541 and the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, SI 2012/3118 in consequence of BSA 2022, Pt 3. These Regulations, and consequently sections 49(1) and 49(2) of the Building Safety Act 2022, come into force on 25 April 2024.
- 04/04/24___ Planning Act 2008 (Commencement No 8) and Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Commencement No 4 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/452: These Regulations bring into force various provisions of the Planning Act 2008 (PA 2008) and the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LRA 2023). They come into force partly on 25 April 2024, and fully on 25 July 2024. Read the official version of this legislation.
- 02/04/24___ DLUHC publishes Q&As on building control changes for higher-risk buildings. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published a number of Q&As providing answers to questions regarding changes to the building control process for higher-risk buildings, as well as the wider changes to the procedural building regulations in England. The additional Q&As are accessible here.
- 02/04/24___DLUHC updates fire safety Approved Document B guidance. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has, in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government, updated its ‘Fire safety: Approved Document B’ statutory guidance. The DLUHC has published the March 2024 amendments to Approved Document B, Volume 1—Dwellings and Volume 2—Buildings other than dwellings. The March 2024 amendments to Approved Document B is accessible here.
- 25/03/24___Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/418: Consequential amendments are made to secondary legislation in relation to England to include combined county authorities among the bodies specified in this legislation. These Regulations come into force on 17 April 2024. Read the official version of this legislation.
- 14/03/24___DESNZ publishes consultation outcome on Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published the outcome to the consultation on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations. The government response can be read here.
- 04/03/24___Building (Approved Inspectors etc) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/244: These Regulations amend the Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2215, to implement Part 3 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). They come into force on 6 April 2024. Official version here.
- 09/02/24___Building (Fees) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024. SSI 2024/46: These Regulations are made to increase building warrant verification fees from 01 April 2024, as part of a three-year model to increase fees annually, allowing for an inflation uplift and dependent on monitoring and reporting. Official version here.
- 07/02/24 ___HSE publishes guidance on mandatory occurrence reporting in higher-risk buildings. Use this service to submit a mandatory occurrence notice and report for higher-risk buildings, including high-rise residential buildings, to the BSR. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published three sets of guidance: Submit a mandatory occurrence notice and report; Submitting mandatory occurrence notices and reports and Operating a mandatory occurrence reporting system.
- 07/02/24___ News: European Commission adopts Industrial Carbon Management Communication. The Communication sets out a policy approach on how the EU will reach relevant targets set out in the proposed Net-Zero Industry Act, identifies actions to be taken at EU and national level to establish a single market for CO2 in Europe and sets out horizontal actions to create a more attractive environment for investments. https://energy.ec.europa.eu/publications/communication-industrial-carbon-management_en
- 05/02/24___ Legislation: Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc) (England) Regulations 2024. SI 2024/110: These Regulations are made to consolidate and replace the Building (Approved Inspectors etc) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2215, following amendments made to the Building Act 1984 (BA 1984) by the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). These Regulations are part of the overall reforms to the building control profession to improve standards and ensure uniformity in professional conduct and competence for all building control professionals. These Regulations come into force on 6 April 2024. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/110/made
- 05/02/24 ___ Research and analysis: Strategies for evacuation of occupants from high-rise residential buildings involved in fire. The Home Office commissioned UCLan to conduct live evacuation testing and follow-up modelling to provide evidence to support the development of national guidelines for carrying out evacuations from HRRBs, which was a recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1. This report summarises key details from a longer paper written by UCLan. Click here for the official report
2023
- 13/12/23 ___ Consultation: DLUHC invites consultation on Future Homes and Buildings Standards. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities (DLUHC) has opened a consultation on the proposed changes to Part 6, Part L, and Part F of the Building Regulations 2010, with a focus on enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in new homes and non-domestic buildings. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-homes-and-buildings-standards-2023-consultation
- 07/12/23 ___ News: The Heat Pump Association trade body outlines proposals for heat pump policy overhaul. The HPA has produced a report to propose a comprehensive policy framework overhaul that it says is needed to overcome barriers preventing more homes from moving to heat pumps. Click here for the official report
- 04/12/23___ News: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes roadmap outlining net zero government initiative. The roadmap draws from existing strategy documents such as the Heat and Buildings Strategy, the Scottish Heat in Buildings Strategy, Net Zero Carbon Status by 2030: Public Sector Route Map for Wales, and the Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland. The roadmap also includes policies and interim targets that are essential to decarbonising the UK’s governments. Click here for the official document
- 30/11/23 ___ Consultation Outcome: Clean Heat Market Mechanism. Government response published. It provides a summary of the responses received to the consultation and the decisions about the final design of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism scheme ahead of its launch in 2024. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/clean-heat-market-mechanism
- 16/11/23 ___ Building Safety (Description of Higher-Risk Building) (Design and Construction Phase) (Wales) Regulations 2023 - SI 2023/1210. These Regulations are made to define what constitutes a higher-risk building for the purposes of section 120I of the Building Act 1984 (BA 1984). Part 3 of the Building Safety Act 2022, which inserted BA 1984, s 120I, makes provision for higher-risk buildings to be subject to an enhanced regulatory regime during the design and construction phase. These Regulations come into force on 1 January 2024. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2023/1210/made
- 10/11/23 ___ Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill, an Act of the Scottish Parliament to confer on the Scottish Ministers powers to identify external wall cladding systems on residential buildings that create or exacerbate risks to human life and to address those risks; to establish a register to record that a building’s cladding has been assessed and that remediation works have been completed; to enable one or more schemes to be established to require persons in the building industry to contribute towards assessing and remediating dangerous cladding; and for connected purposes. Click here for the Bill as introduced
- 08/11/23 ___ Legislation: Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023 - SI 2023/1182. These Regulations make changes to the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme Regulations 2014, SI 2014/1643 (the 2014 Regulations), which came into force on 29 November 2023. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1182/made
2022
- 30/11/22
Policy: As part of the raft of measures introduced by the Building Safety Act, The UK Government has now launched a pilot opening of the Medium-Rise Scheme (MRS) which is a new scheme for medium rise buildings (11–18 metres) which will provide funding for the remediation or mitigation of the fire safety risks linked to unsafe external wall systems on medium-rise buildings where a developer cannot be traced nor held responsible.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/pilot-launch-of-the-medium-rise-scheme-mrs
- 28/11/22
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) published its fourth quarterly report on the Construct Zero Performance Framework Dashboard. The initiative monitors the progress of goals announced last year at COP27e.g. to track carbon reduction activities and to challenge organisations to improve nine key areas.
https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/news/construct-zero-performance-framework-dashboard-4th-quarterly-report/
- 23/11/22
Legislation: SI 2022/1210: Certain provisions of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022) are shortly to come into force.
The particular provision in the Building Safety Act to bring in a regulator to assist and monitor certain building safety activities will come into force on 1st December 2022.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/1210/made
- 23/11/22
Policy: The Welsh Government has provided a circular, WGC 007/2022, that informs of the updated calculation methodologies for the energy performance of buildings in Wales, in accordance with the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010.
https://gov.wales/notice-approval-updated-calculation-methodologies-wales-wgc-0072022
- 22/11/22
Consultation: The UK Government (DLUHC) has launched a Consultation into the design and implementation of the Building Safety Levy.
The Levy was announced in February 2021 and will be paid by developers on new residential buildings requiring building control approval. The Consultation runs from 22nd November 2023 to 7th February 2023.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-building-safety-levy-consultation/the-building-safety-levy-consultation
- 18/11/22
Analysis: The NOCN Group has published a report: 'Greening the UK's Skills', which suggests that while the UK has great engineering, science and technology skills, it lacks people with those skills to drive to Net Zero. The study explores the range of adapted and new skills the UK’s economy urgently needs to build over the next five to ten years.
https://www.nocn.org.uk/products/consultancy-and-research/greening-uk-skills/
- 17/11/22
Policy: In the Autumn Statement 2022, on 17 November 2022, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, announced the refocused Investment Zones, first announced in the Growth Plan 2022, with the first clusters being announced in the coming months. Furthermore, the Statement announced continued support for infrastructure projects such as East West Rail, core Northern Powerhouse Rail and High Speed 2 rail projects and the Sizewell C nuclear plant project. Finally, the Statement announced a new long-term commitment to energy efficiency, including the establishment of a new Energy Efficiency Taskforce.
Click here for The Autumn Statement
- 16/11/22
Policy: The UK Government (BEIS) has announced that the deadline for when businesses across the wider economy need to use the UKCA mark has been extended until 31 December 2024. Specific regulatory amendments regarding the UKCA marks on construction products have yet to be resolved.
https://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/news-media-events/news/2022/november/cpa-awaiting-clarification-from-government-on-ukca-mark/
- 16/11/22
Policy: The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)'s chief, Richard Burge, has called for regulatory certainty on the removal of cladding from tower blocks to be established by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) due to concerns of unclear red tape hindering the removal of cladding from high-rise buildings.
https://www.londonchamber.co.uk/news-and-insights/news/press-releases/red-tape-preventing-cladding-removals-could-cause/
- 14/11/22
Legislation: SI 2022/Draft. The Architects Act 1997 (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
These draft Regulations are laid to amend the Architects Act 1997 (AA 1997) to allow the regulator, the Architects Registration Board (ARB), to enter into agreements with overseas regulators. This draft was created on 14th November 2022 and due to come into force 21 days after.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2022/9780348241143
- 11/11/22
Policy: The Scottish Government has published its 'Heat in Buildings' supply chains delivery plan on the changes and growth in the ‘Green Heat’ industry which are necessary to meet future regulations on heating and energy efficiency.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/heat-buildings-supply-chains-delivery-plan-towards-industry-green-heat/
- 11/11/22
Analysis: The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has announced the highest level of construction output (£15,125m) in September 2022 since records began in January 2010. In September 2022, construction output increased 0.4% in volume terms, which is the third consecutive monthly growth following small upward revisions, to 0.6% in August 2022 and 0.2% in July 2022.
https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/news/construction-output-increases-0-4-in-september-2022/
- 10/11/22
News: Private sector companies launch private sector construction ‘playbook’
Private sector companies, comprising of contractors, architects and engineers, have launched an industry guide for dealings with private sector clients, which lists ten key drivers for success including long-term contracting, an outcome-based approach, embedding digital information flows across the life of assets, early supply chain involvement and fair payment.
https://www.cic.org.uk/news/private-sector-construction-playbook-published
http://media.bethebusiness.com/documents/5195_Construction_Brochure_SinglePgs.pdf (PDF)
- 09/11/22
Call for evidence: The group developing the UK’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (NZCBS) has opened a call for evidence to help inform and guide the development of the NZCBS. The coalition is calling on UK built environment industry practitioners to supply operational energy and embodied carbon performance data for their buildings, in order to develop the NZCBS evidence base. The deadline for submissions is 16 December 2022.
https://www.rics.org/uk/news-insight/latest-news/news-opinion/uk-net-zero-carbon-buildings-standard-coalition-launches-call-for-evidence/
- 08/11/22
Policy: The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has set up Diversity in the Built Environment Working Group (DIBE) to establish an umbrella body for black construction professionals to promote a more diverse leadership.
https://www.cic.org.uk/news/diversity-in-the-built-environment-working-group-set-up-to-create-umbrella-body-for-black-construction-professionals
- 07/11/22
Analysis: The Construction Products Association (CPA) has published its latest autumn forecast. This predicts construction output to fall significantly in 2023. Construction output is forecast to fall by 3.9% in 2023 following a rise of 2.0% in 2022, as activity currently continues at a high level.
https://www.constructionproducts.org.uk/news-media-events/news/2022/november/cpa-autumn-forecast-2022/
- 07/11/22
Analysis: The Association of Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has highlighted the S&P Global / CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) figures October 2022. These indicate that construction growth rose to its highest point for five months, but that business optimism dropped to a 29-month low.
https://www.acenet.co.uk/news/industry/output-highest-for-five-months-but-optimism-at-29-month-low-pmi-reveals/
- 04/11/22
News: The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has reported the launch of Net Zero Built Environment Council by global management consulting firm, McKinsey. The council will bring together stakeholders from industry leaders to scale-ups to stimulate investment, deployment and scaling of new materials and technologies, helping to reduce emissions at every stage of the building life cycle.
https://www.acenet.co.uk/news/industry/net-zero-built-environment-council-launched/
- 04/11/22
Policy: The Africa Regional Network of World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched the Africa Manifesto for Sustainable Cities and the Built Environment, setting out desired action points from policymakers and businesses across the continent.
https://worldgbc.org/article/worldgbc-calls-for-urgent-action-africa/
- 02/11/22
Analysis: (BEIS) has released its building materials and components statistics analysis for October 2022. The data shows a decrease of 9.7% in concrete block deliveries and a 2.6% increase in brick deliveries in September 2022 compared to September 2021. In the same period, the material price index for ‘all work’ increased by 16.7%.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-october-2022
- 02/11/22
Compliance: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published frequently asked questions (FAQs) on cladding external wall systems (EWS). The FAQs provide information on what an EWS is, when EWS1 forms are needed, who can initiate and carry out the process, and how it is done.
https://www.rics.org/uk/news-insight/latest-news/fire-safety/cladding-qa/
- 01/11/22
Policy: UK Finance has published a report calling for greater collaboration between finance, government, civil society and business to ‘inspire action, deliver funding and define the standards needed for the greening of the UK’s homes’. The report sets out a series of recommendations which broadly work within the key targets and measurement system laid down in the government’s Net Zero Strategy.
https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/news-and-insight/press-release/uk-finance-calls-strategic-reset-net-zero-homes
- 01/11/22
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Cymru has commented on its most recent State of Trade Survey which showed 90% of members have seen their material prices rise and 60% have delayed jobs because they cannot get skilled workers. The Survey shows growth in workloads, enquiries and employment levels are all continuing to contract, with enquiries dropping into negative territory for the first time since 2013.
https://www.fmb.org.uk/resource/pressure-mounts-for-welsh-builders-with-costs-soaring-and-skilled-workers-in-short-supply-announces-fmb-cymru.html
- 01/11/22
Analysis: The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has published new data indicating the possibility of economic turbulence and cost of living pressures, contributing to a dramatic fall in both recent workload and future enquiries for Scotland’s small, local builders. The Survey shows growth in workloads, enquiries and employment levels are all continuing to contract, with enquiries dropping into negative territory for the first time since 2013.
https://www.fmb.org.uk/resource/new-data-indicates-dramatic-drop-in-work-for-local-builders-reveals-fmb-scotland.html
- 31/10/22
Consultation: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a Consultation on the latest version of the Building Inspector Competence Framework (BICoF). The Consultation closes on 9 December 2022. Building control professionals will, in future, have to register with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). It is expected that the register will open from October 2023 before registration becomes a legal requirement in April 2024.To register, building control professionals will be expected to demonstrate competence in line with the BICoF.
Click here to view>>
- 31/10/22
News: The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published its Energy Bill Relief Scheme FAQs and Energy Saving Advice resources to assist construction firms. The advice resource provides advice on reducing energy consumption, including the Energy Saving Trust, the Carbon Trust and the British Standards Institution and support schemes, such as Ofgem and Citizens Advice.
https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/news/energy-bill-relief-scheme-resources-for-construction-firms/
- 05/10/22
Analysis: The UK Government (BEIS) has published its building materials and components statistics analysis for September 2022. The statistics provide information on selected building materials.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-september-2022
- 04/10/22
Legislation: SI 2022/984 Building etc (Amendment) (England) (No 2) Regulations 2022. The UK Government departments BEIS and DCMS have published a circular and an accompanying letter about the publication of Regulations, Approved Document R, which were laid before Parliament on 26 September 2022. Both the Regulations and the volumes of Approved Document R are due to come into force on 26 December 2022. The circular explains the changes that will ensure new homes will include gigabit-ready infrastructure and gigabit-capable connections.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-building-etc-amendment-england-no-2-regulations-2022-circular-042022
Statutory Guidance: Infrastructure for Electronic Communications: Approved Document R
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infrastructure-for-electronic-communications-approved-document-r
- 29/09/22
Consultation: Review of Net Zero: Call for evidence. The UK Government (BEIS) calls for 'evidence' on its approach to deliver its net zero target, to ensure that delivering the net zero target does not place undue burdens on businesses or consumers. The Consultation is part of a Review of Net Zero between 29th September and 27th October 2022.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-net-zero-call-for-evidence
- 29/09/22
Legislation: SI 2022/993 Building (Amendment) (Wales) (No.2) Regulations 2022. The Building Regulations team for the Welsh Government has issued a circular letter to introduce the new 2022 energy efficiency and ventilation amendments. The letter is intended to draw attention to: the amendments and explain the changes they make to the Building Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2214, the publication of new Approved Documents F (Ventilation), volume 2 and Approved document L (Conservation of Fuel and Power), volume 2 and the transitional arrangements, which apply to individual buildings and sites caught by certain previous transitional provisions.
https://gov.wales/building-regulations-amendment-wales-no2-regulations-2022-wgc-0052022-html
Circular letter
https://gov.wales/building-regulations-amendment-wales-no2-regulations-2022-wgc-0052022-html
- 28/09/22
Policy: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that it will carry out 1,000 inspections of construction sites between October and November 2022, focusing on how workers handle materials. The inspections are part of a wider campaign to tackle the health risks associated with construction,
http://press.hse.gov.uk/2022/09/27/hse-launches-campaign-to-combat-serious-aches-pains-and-strains-in-construction/
- 27/09/22
Policy: The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)’s England Construction Opportunities (ECO) commission has awarded eight bids, totalling an investment of just over £1.8m. The eight projects will deliver a total of 3,500 employment support plans over the course of three years, which aim to address the construction industry’s skills gap and progression, increase employment retention and provide support to new starters in the industry.
https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/news-events-and-blogs/citb-invests-18m-to-support-england-construction-opportunities-and-reduce-the-skills-gap/
- 26/09/22
Legislation: SI 2022/984. Building etc. (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2022. This Regulation is in relation to the proposed installation of of “gigabit-ready physical infrastructure” in all newly built homes and a connection to a “gigabit-capable public electronic communications network.” The Regulation was laid on 23rd September 2022 and is due to come info force on 26th December 2022.
https://statutoryinstruments.parliament.uk/instrument/72w4Rg25/
- 26/09/22
Consultation: The Welsh Government has published a Consultation seeking views on proposed Operational Standards Rules (OSRs), which provide the standards building control bodies must meet in Wales. The consultation also sets out proposed monitoring arrangements and strategic context to building control oversight which support the OSRs. The Consultation closes on 21 November 2022.
https://gov.wales/operational-standards-rules
- 26/09/22
Policy: The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published its new strategy and priorities for the next three years. CLC will focus its efforts on four long-term ambitions—net zero and biodiversity, net generation delivery, building safety and people and skills—to boost productivity and create a more resilient industry.
https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/news/press-release-clc-strategy-and-priorities/
- 26/09/22
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that it is recruiting for members to join the Building Advisory Committee (BAC) steering group. The BAC, and the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) in England were recently created by the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). The BAC will be advising government on the safety and standard of all buildings and will provide advice, information and support to the BSR on new and emerging issues and provide leadership across industry to drive change. The committee is expected to meet for the first time in December 2022.
https://consultations.hse.gov.uk/bsr/building-advisory-committee/
- 23/09/22
Policy: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published its Sustainability Report 2022, highlighting the increasing need for sustainable strategies across the built environment to meet net zero commitments. Furthermore, the report sets a global benchmark for issues of climate, carbon and sustainability practice, reflecting the sentiment of around 4000 real estate and construction professionals from across 30 countries.
https://www.rics.org/uk/news-insight/future-of-surveying/sustainability/
- 23/09/22
Policy: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP, delivered an emergency budget on 23 September 2022, entitled the ‘Growth Plan 2022’. The Growth Plan contains measures aimed at increasing economic growth across the UK by providing for accelerated infrastructure projects, aiming to start the vast majority of construction by the end of 2023, and newly created investment zones to drive growth and unlock housing in interested areas, which will benefit from tax incentives, planning liberalisation, and wider support for the local economy.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-growth-plan-2022-documents
- 22/09/22
Analysis: The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has published the Future Trends survey results for August 2022 discussing the business and employment trends affecting the architects’ profession. The industry has been impacted by rising inflation and energy costs, combined with an expected recession, and has seen confidence in future workloads fall, which has been clearly evidenced by attitudes recorded in the survey.
https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/architects-expect-sector-to-contract-riba-future-trends-august-2022
- 22/09/22
Policy: The Construction Innovation Hub (CIH) has published the Product Platform Rulebook. The Rulebook is a fundamental step towards creating a voluntary consensus standard that supports the construction industry, as a whole, to develop and deploy product platforms consistently to deliver better environmental and societal outcomes through the built environment.
http://constructioninnovationhub.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/The-Product-Platform-Rulebook_Edition-1-1.pdf
- 20/09/22
Analysis: The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has announced a second consecutive decrease in monthly construction output after seven consecutive months of growth.
https://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/lexispsl/construction/document/281955/66F2-J873-GXF6-847F-00000-00
- 20/09/22
Policy: The UK Government (DLUHC) has published new guidance for the Building Safety Fund (BSF), which provides funding to address life safety fire risks associated with cladding in high-rise buildings. The guidance covers all stages of the BSF process, from when the application is submitted to when the works are completed. DLUHC has also provided an information page for leaseholders and other residents regarding fire safety and remediation of historic building safety defects, which includes how fire safety is managed in multi-occupancy buildings, how remediation work is being delivered and who should pay for the works.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/information-for-leaseholders-and-other-residents-on-fire-safety-and-remediation-of-historic-building-safety-defects
- 20/09/22
Policy: The World Green Building Council (WGBC) has announced 172 signatories comprised of businesses and organisations as well as States and regions, have joined the updated Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (the Commitment). The signatories have committed to decarbonise operational and embodied emissions from their real estate assets to help reach 2050 net zero goals.
https://www.worldgbc.org/news-media/built-environment-stakeholders-take-action-on-net-zero-carbon-buildings
- 15/09/22
Analysis: The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has announced that a white paper entitled: ‘Built environment – proposed construction product competence standard – white paper’. This has been developed by the Competence Steering Group (CSG), led by the Construction Products Association (CPA), The white paper confirms the need for radical change around the area of construction product competence (CPC).
https://www.cic.org.uk/news/csg-white-paper-proposes-new-standard-to-unite-the-sector-behind-construction-product-competence
- 07/09/22
Analysis: The UK Government (BEIS) published its building materials and components statistics analysis for August 2022. The statistics provide information on selected building materials, including monthly data on price indices, bricks, cement and concrete blocks.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-august-2022
- 06/09/22
Analysis: The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) reported a fall in construction activity for the second consecutive month according to September's construction PMI data.
https://www.fmb.org.uk/resource/fall-in-construction-activity-requires-bold-new-policies-says-fmb.html
- 06/09/22
Legislation: SI 2022/draft Product Safety and Metrology (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
These draft Regulations are proposed to amend 18 pieces of UK secondary legislation and three pieces of retained direct EU legislation in relation to product safety and metrology. They come into force at 11 pm on 31 December 2022.
https://www.gov.uk/eu-withdrawal-act-2018-statutory-instruments/the-product-safety-and-metrology-amendment-regulations-2022
- 05/09/22
Policy: The UK Government (Cabinet Office), has updated the Consultancy Playbook, which provides information on sourcing consultancy services, building on the original version with new and refreshed guidance notes on a range of topics, including ‘Promoting Net Zero Carbon and Sustainability’, ‘Modern Methods of Construction’.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-sourcing-and-consultancy-playbooks#full-publication-update-history
- 02/09/22
Consultation: UK mandatory water efficiency labelling. The Consultation is seeking views on the introduction of mandatory water efficiency labelling on water using products, including taps, showers, toilets, dishwashers and washing machines.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/uk-mandatory-water-efficiency-labelling
- 01/09/22
Consultation: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that, from April 2023, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will be operating as part of the HSE and is therefore calling for views on the proposed operational standards rules (OSRs) it is developing for building control bodies. The Consultation will close on 25 October 2022.
https://consultations.hse.gov.uk/bsr/bsr-operational-standards-rules-consultation/
- 01/09/22
Policy: The International Underwriting Association (IUA) in conjunction with the UK Government (DLUHC) has developed a new model fire safety clause for high rise repairs. The clause can be freely used by underwriters seeking to provide professional indemnity insurance for building cladding remediation work being completed under the government’s £4.5bn Building Safety Fund.
http://www.iua.co.uk/IUA_Member/Press/Press_Releases_2022/IUA_publishes_new_fire_safety_clause_for_high_rise_repairs.aspx
- 31/08/22
Analysis: The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has published its report entitled ‘Learning lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic to strengthen the construction industry’ which reflects on how changes in the sector during the pandemic improved the long-standing issues of collaboration and communication between contractors and clients, flexible working patterns, payment processes and worker wellbeing.
https://www.ciob.org/news/lessons-learnt-during-covid19-pandemic-leave-lasting-legacy
- 31/08/22
Legislation: On 31 August 2022, SI 2022/927. The UK Government announced the 'Building Safety Act 2022 (Commencement No.2) Regulations 2022'. Under these regulations, sections 126-129 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022) came into force on 1 September 2022.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/927/introduction/made
- 30/08/22
Policy: The UK Government (BEIS) has published eight policy statements and three draft statutory instruments relating to the Energy Security Bill. The Bill was introduced on 6 July 2022 to facilitate an energy system which is cheaper, cleaner and more secure. The documents cover related topics including a new governance framework, competition, and carbon storage regulation.
Read more here
- 23/08/22
Policy: The UK Government (DLUHC) has published answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on Approved Document B (Fire Safety), including 2020 and 2022 amendments. The guidance explores, in detail, questions relating to Requirement B1 (Means of Warning and Escape), Requirement B3 (Internal Fire Spread (Structure)), Requirement B5 (Access and Facilities for the Fire Service) and the application and scope of Approved Document B.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/approved-document-b-fire-safety-frequently-asked-questions
- 22/08/22
Call for evidence: The UK Government (DLUHC) has called for evidence on leaseholder-owned buildings above 11 metres or five storeys with relevant defects as defined under the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022). The call for evidence is set to inform government policy in determining how to best protect the leaseholders in buildings above 11 metres or five storeys from the impact of building safety defects. The call for evidence closes on 14 November 2022.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/leaseholder-owned-buildings-11m-or-5-storeys-call-for-evidence
- 12/08/22
Analysis: The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has published new insight into the positive impact circular thinking can have in delivering whole life carbon reductions and value creation across construction projects, through its study ‘How Circular Economy Principles can impact carbon and value’.
ukgbc.org/news/ukgbc-study-reveals-essential-role-of-circularity-in-delivering-net-zero-buildings/
- 11/8/22
The UK Government (BEIS) has published new guidance on how to conform with the UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA), which sets out how to ensure that products are properly checked for conformity and technical documents are managed correctly. BEIS also added that the government will be introducing legislation to allow conformity assessment activities undertaken by EU-recognised Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs)—for CE certification before 31 December 2022—to be used by manufacturers to declare existing product types as compliant with UKCA requirements.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ukca-marking-conformity-assessment-and-documentation
- 08/8/22
The UK Government (DLUHC) has published the scoping report for the Evaluation of the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026. The report provides a guide for people commissioned to effectively assess the programme, ensuring the programme is designed in a way that utilises the detection of impact, actionable insight and ability to evaluate value for money.
Read more here
- 03/8/22
Analysis: The UK Government (BEIS) has published its building materials and components statistics analysis for July 2022. The statistics provide information on selected building materials, including monthly data on price indices, bricks, cement and concrete blocks.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/building-materials-and-components-statistics-july-2022
- 03/8/22
Consultation: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has opened a Consultation setting out the Building Safety Regulator (BSR)’s proposals for the Building Safety (Fees and Charges) Regulations and an underpinning charging scheme. The HSE will consult on these proposals over a period of 10 weeks, from 1 August 2022 to 7 October 2022.
https://consultations.hse.gov.uk/bsr/fees-and-charges-regs/
- 03/8/22
News: Five construction firms sign up as Carbon Champions. Balfour Beatty, Fairhursts Design Group, NBS, RD Group, and William Hare Ltd (along with eighty others) have committed to help drive carbon out of the industry as part of the CLC’s 'CO2nstruct Zero' campaign, thereby committing to becoming ‘Carbon Champions’.
https://specificationonline.co.uk/articles/2022-08-04/cic/five-firms-sign-up-as-carbon-champions
- 03/8/22
Policy: The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced a ‘radical’ new employer network pilot to improve access to construction industry training. An investment of more than £800,000 has been made for the launch of the project which could revolutionise the way the construction sector access and receive funding for training in the future.
https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/news-events-and-blogs/citb-announces-radical-new-pilot-to-improve-access-to-training/
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