Legislation

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Welcome to the BSRIA Legislation Service. Here, we offer updates on the latest building and building services legislation, news, and guidance.

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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 BSRThe 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 2023/1210These 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) Billan 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 2023/1182These 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


Regulations | View all >>

  • 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.” This Regulation was laid on 23rd September 2022 and due to come into force on 26th December 2022
    Read more here

  • 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.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/712 Construction Products (Amendment) Regulations 2022. These Regulations have been drawn up under the Building Safety Act 2022, in connection with Brexit. They amend two pieces of UK secondary legislation in relation to construction. They come into force on 20 July 2022.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/draft: Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022. These Regulations impose duties on landlords of residential premises in respect of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, including those who provide social housing. This Regulation was laid before Parliament on 11th May 2022 and will come into force on 1st October 2022.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/547 Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. These Regulations amend the duties of the responsible person/s for building safety as outlined in the 'Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (“the Fire Safety Order”). Amongst the changes are responsibilities for more signage, provision of instructions, equipment testing, more information provision about fire doors and closer communications with fire authorities. This Regulation was laid before Parliament on 18th May 2022 and will come into force on 23rd January 2023.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/592 The Green Gas Support Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2022. These Regulations amend the Green Gas Support Scheme Regulations 2021 (“the 2021 Regulations”), which established the Green Gas Support Scheme (“the GGSS”).

    The GGSS is a renewable heat incentive scheme to facilitate and encourage the production of biomethane by anaerobic digestion, for injection into the gas grid. The Regulation was laid before Parliament on the 27th May 2022 and is due to come into force on 1st July 2022
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/draft The Construction Contracts (England) Exclusion Order 2022. The Order excludes construction contracts which are ‘for the delivery of a direct procurement for customers project’ from Part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.
    https://statutoryinstruments.parliament.uk/instrument/xqWzvKiq/

  • SI 2022/467  Emissions Performance Standard (Amendment) Regulations 2022
    These Regulations amend the Emissions Performance Standard Regulations 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”) (S.I. 2015/933) to update certain definitions that apply in respect of the monitoring and enforcement of the emissions performance standard in England. This regulation was laid before Parliament on 25th April 2022 and is due to come into force on 17th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • SSI 2022/136 The Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022. These new Regulations ban developers from using combustible cladding on high-rise domestic and other high-risk buildings over 11 metres as well as from using highest risk metal composite cladding in any new buildings of any height. This regulation was introduced on 14th March, laid before Parliament on 22nd March 2022 and came into force on 4th April 2022.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/217 Non-Domestic Rating (Definition of Domestic Property) (England) Order 2022. This Regulation was laid before Parliament on 8th March 2022 and came into force on 4th April 2022.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/278  Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2022. This regulation was introduced on 14th March and came into force on 4th April 2022.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/383 Flood Reinsurance (Amendment) Regulations 2022. The Regulation came into force on 1 April 2022
    Read more here

  • SSI 2022/78 C.6 The Prescription (Scotland) Act 2018 (Commencement, Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2022
    The Scottish Government has published a statutory instrument bringing the Prescription (Scotland) Act 2018 (P(S)A 2018) into force. P(S)A 2018, s 5, which concerns the starting point of the prescriptive period for obligations to pay damages, and P(S)A 2018, s 13, regarding restrictions on contracting out, will come into force on 1 June 2022. The other provisions will take effect on 28 February 2025.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/draft Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales) Regulations 2022. This draft Regulation was laid before Parliament on 24th February 2022.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/159 Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme and Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2022.
    The Regulation was laid before Parliament on 1st February 2022.
    Read more here

  • SI 2022/draft Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2022. The Regulation was laid before Parliament on 31st January 2022.
    Read more here

  • SI 2021/draft The Climate Change Act 2008 (Credit Limit) Order 2021
    This Order sets a limit on the net amount of carbon units that may be credited to the net UK carbon account for the 2023-2027 budgetary period of 55,000,000 carbon units.  This Order was made on 13th May 2021. Read more here

  • SI 2021/561 The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Auctioning (Amendment) Regulations 2021
    These Regulations amend the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Auctioning Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/484), which provide for the auctioning of allowances created for the purposes of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, to clarify the criteria applicable to representatives of those eligible to apply to bid for allowances under those Regulations and to correct a number of other minor errors. This Order was made on 10th May 2021 and came into force on 19th May 2021. Read more here

  • SI 2021/543 Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2021. These Regulations make amendments to legislation in the field of fluorinated greenhouse gases. The Order was introduced on 4th May 2021 and came into force on 25th May 2021. Read more here

  • SI 2021/386 Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) (Wales) Order
    This Order amends the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (“the GPDO”). Read more here

  • SI/2021/428 The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021
    This Order amends, primarily, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (“the GPDO”).
    The Amendment came into force on 21st April, 2021. Read more here

  • SI 2021/254 The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (Wales) Order 2021
    This Order amends the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (“the GPDO”). The Amendment came into force on 29th March, 2021. Read more here

  • SI 2021/13 The Stamp Duty Land Tax (Administration) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. The Regulations amend Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Stamp Duty Land Tax (Administration) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2837) to provide a new SDLT 1 form in connection with land transactions for the purposes of stamp duty land tax. This was created on 6th January 2021 and due to come into force on Ist April 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 was created on 11th November, 2020.  Read more here

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

  • 21/06/22
    Bills: Carbon Emissions (Buildings) Bill. 
    A Private Member's Bill, requiring the whole-life carbon emissions of buildings to be reported; to set limits on embodied carbon emissions in the construction of buildings; and for connected purposes. This Bill had its first reading on 20th June 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bills: Climate and Ecology Bill. 
    This Private Member's Bill had its first reading on 25th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bills: Healthy Homes Bill
    This Bill makes provision for the delivery of healthy homes and neighbourhoods; to set out the principles that define a “healthy home”; to establish the office of the Healthy Homes Commissioner; and for connected purposes. The Bill received its first reading on 26th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bill: Domestic Premises (Electrical Safety Certificate) Bill. A Private Member's Bill requiring an electrical safety certificate to be provided to a prospective purchaser of domestic premises in specified circumstances. The first reading was on 24th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bill: Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.This Bill had its first reading on 11th May 2022 and its second reading is due on 8th June 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bill: Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill. A Private Member's Bill on establishing clean air as a human right and mandating the UK Government to address the issues of air quality in England and Wales. The first reading was on 19th May and the second one is due on 24th June 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bill: Air Pollution (Local Authority Audits) Bill
    A Private Members' Bill to make provision for local authorities to conduct annual audits of air pollution in their area and associated emissions by public and private entities. This Bill had its first reading on 2nd February 2022 and is due its second reading on 6th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bill: Building Safety Bill. This Bill finally reached the stage of Royal Assent (27th April 2022) in the House of Lords and became an Act of Parliament on 28th April 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bill: Mobile Homes Act 1983 (Amendment) Bill.  A Bill to amend the Mobile Homes Act 1983. This is a Private Members' Bill and was presented for its first reading to Parliament on Wednesday 16th June 2021. The second reading is now scheduled on 6th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bill: Flooding (Prevention and Insurance) Bill. The Bill was presented for its first reading to Parliament on 16th November 2021. The second reading is now scheduled on 6th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Bill: Air Pollution (Local Authority Audits) Bill. This is a Private Members' Bill and was presented for its first reading to Parliament on Wednesday 2 February 2022. The second reading is now scheduled on 6th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Act: Environment Act 2021
    Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the Bill it received Royal Assent on 9 November 2021. The Bill is now an Act of Parliament (law)
    Read more here

  • Bill: Healthy Homes Bill 2021
    This Bill had its first reading in the Lords on 17th March 2022. The purpose of the Bill is to outline the targets, plans and policies for the delivery of healthy homes and neighbourhoods, and to establish the office of the healthy homes commissioner and to make provisions for local housing needs.
    Read more here (PDF)
    Lexis Nexis analyses the changes that were made to the Bill in the House of Lords, and at what further steps the Bill must undergo before it is enacted. Read more here (PDF)


  • Bill: Environment Bill 2021
    A Bill to make provision about targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment; for statements and reports about environmental protection; for the Office for Environmental Protection; about waste and resource efficiency; about air quality; for the recall of products that fail to meet environmental standards; about water; about nature and biodiversity; for conservation covenants; about the regulation of chemicals; and for connected purposes. The Bill had its first reading on the 26th May 2021 and is due its second reading on the 2nd June 2021. Read more here

  • Act: Fire Safety Act 2021 
    This Act makes provision about the application of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 where a building contains two or more sets of domestic premises; and to confer power to amend that order in the future for the purposes of changing the premises to which it applies. It comes into force partly on 29 April 2021, on 29 June 2021, and fully on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument appoint. Read more here

  • Act: European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020. 
    The official Act, formalising the trade agreement and future relationship between the EU and the UK was passed on December 31st, 2020. This Act makes provision to implement the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and associated agreements, and further provision in connection with the UK’s future relationship with the EU and its Member States, as well as related provision on specific matters concerning trade and security, including provisions on criminal records, passenger name record data, evidence and extradition, customs, tax, social security, and privileges and immunities, and for connected purposes. It comes into force partly on 30 December 2020, and comes into force fully on such day as a Minister of the Crown may by regulations appoint. Different days may be appointed for different purposes. Read more here\

  • 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: New Homes (New Development Standards)
    A Bill to require residential developers to meet minimum standards of provision for insulation, broadband connectivity and electric car charging points in new homes; and for connected purposes. Originally a Private Members Bill in June 2020. It is now awaiting a second reading in the current session (2021).
    Read more here

  • Bill: Net Zero Carbon Emissions (Audit)
    A Bill to make provision for an independent audit of the costs and benefits of meeting the requirement under the Climate Change Act 2008 for net United Kingdom carbon emissions to be zero by 2050; and for connected purposes. Originally a Private Members Bill in February 2020.  It is now awaiting a second reading in the current session  (2021).
    Read more here 

Consultations  | View all >> 

  • Consultation: Hydrogen Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund: market engagement on electrolytic allocation. The Consultation runs from 8th April until 6th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Consultation: The UK Government (DEFRA) is seeking views on its planned revision to the statutory local air quality management policy guidance (LAQM).  The Consultation runs from 28th March until 6th June 2022.
    Read more here

  • Consultation: Developing the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). The Consultation runs from 25th March 2022 to 17th June 2022.
    Read more here

  • Consultation: UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment 4 (OESEA4).  The Consultation runs from 17th March 2022 to 27th May 2022.
    Read more here

  • Consultation: A UK Government Consultation seeking views on a revised version of the Building Bulletin 100 design guide for fire safety in schools. The Consultation opened on 27th May and continues until 17th August 2021.
    Read more here

  • Consultation: The UK Government announce the Consultation on the Future Building Standard on 21st January 2021.  This Consultation is the second stage of a 2-part consultation on proposed changes to Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations.  It also sets out proposals for a Future Buildings Standard, which provides a pathway to highly efficient non-domestic buildings which are zero carbon ready. Read more here

  • Consultation: Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS): digestate managementIn April 2020, the 'Future support for low carbon heat' Consultation set out proposals for a new Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) to increase the proportion of green gas in the grid, through support for biomethane injection by the process of anaerobic digestion (AD).In this consultation, 2 mitigations are proposed against ammonia emissions from digestate, a by-product of AD, for the GGSS scheme participants. The Consultation runs from 21st December 2020 to 15th January 2021. Read more here

  • 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

Guidance  | View all>>

  • The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has published guidance to support the delivery of social value across built environment projects, listing eight practical steps to allow built environment practitioners to do so.
    Read more here 

  • The National Building Specification (NBS) has published its ‘Sustainable Futures Survey’, which polled 608 construction professionals to understand sustainability attitudes and protocols within the construction sector.
    Read more about the NBS Report here
    Read the CIC news article here

  • The UK Government (BEIS) has published new guidance on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS). Subjects covered in this guidance include the supply of allowances in the UK ETS in the scheme’s initial phases. It also provides information on the functioning of the auctions and secondary market, free allocation, and the ETS Authority’s market stability mechanisms.
    Read more here
     
  • The British Refrigeration Association (BRA) has announced the release of an updated guide on the Jointing of Pipework for Refrigeration Systems. This latest issue is the sixth version of the guide and the first update since the 2014 edition.
    Read more here

  • The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) has published a new Guidance note for the occupations of Design and Applications Engineer as part of its series of roadmaps setting out the skills, knowledge and behaviours required in key occupations.
    Read more here

  • The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has released a new Technical Guide to add to its portfolio of online Guides available to download. The new guide, entitled “Selection of Control Valves”, is intended to provide a better understanding of the complex topic of control valves in HVAC systems.
    Read more here

  • The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) has released guidance on speeding up flood recovery and property flood resilience on 8th January 2021. Property flood resilience (PFR) is an important part of the response to flood risk. PFR includes measures that reduce the risks to people and property enabling households and businesses to reduce flood damage, speed up recovery and reoccupation. PFR measures should reduce the amount of water entering buildings (known as resistance measures), or limit the damage caused if water does enter a building (known as recoverability measures). Read more here

  • The NEC has launched a new NEC4 Facilities Management Contract (FMC) and NEC4 Facilities Management Subcontract specifically for ‘procuring facilities management services', on  8th January 2021.  The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) has supported NEC with the production of the contracts in order to identify the best practice in the sector as well as to signify the way forward. Read more here

  • Onward publishes its latest research report, 'Getting to zero' on 5th January 2021, which marks the launch of a major Government cross-party programme of research  to understand the political and practical challenges to achieving net zero by 2050, and to develop policies to help people and places who may be disrupted in the transition. Read more here

  • The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has released a new report entitled ‘Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront: Coordinated action for the building and construction sector to tackle embodied carbon’, which sets out how cross-sector collaboration can help the construction sector reach its net-zero goal and how to mitigate embodied carbon emissions. The report is part of WorldGBC’s Advancing Net Zero strategy and is produced in partnership with European Climate Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, C40 Cities and Ramboll. 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