We consulted on proposed improvements to standards set through Scottish building regulations between July and November 2021.
We asked you for your views on a range of key topics relating to the energy and environmental performance of buildings, including:
Consultation activity ran from 26/07/2021 to 28/11/2021 and received a total of 176 responses. 156 were from organisations and 20 were from individuals. Of the responses received, 43 respondents instructed that their responses should not be published. Of these 43 responses, 5 were from individuals and 39 from organisations. Accordingly, following final QA checks, 133 consultation responses were published on the consultation webpage.
In general, there was significant and positive support for the majority of the proposed improvements to energy standards and for the changes to environmental provisions (ventilation and overheating). Responses represented a range of views and offered useful insight into many aspects of the proposals. The full consultation analysis and report is published separately at: https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781804356012.
We have confirmed a range of changes to building regulations, based upon the consultation proposals and your responses to them.
We have published the Scottish Government Response to the consultation process.
Next Steps
Revised Building Standards Technical Handbooks and further supporting documents will set out the full extent of changes applicable to new buildings and new building work from 1 February 2023. These Handbooks, together with a summary of the changes are published at: https://www.gov.scot/policies/building-standards/monitoring-improving-building-regulations/.
Regulations to enable these changes were laid in April 2022 and were amended in mid-June to reflect a revised December 2022 implementation date for the new standards. In November 2022, implementation was then further deferred to 1 February 2023 in response to delays in the deployment of tools implementing the UK calculation methodology.
Final proposals have now been confirmed and published at Building regulations - Building standards - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).
Changes relating to EV charging proposals, will be confirmed and published in February 2023, for implementation from 1 April 2023.
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
Scottish building regulations set minimum standards applicable to new buildings and to new work to existing buildings.
Our recent draft Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out our vision for decarbonising heat and reducing energy demand across all buildings in Scotland, setting out the scale of the investment opportunity and supporting our green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following review in 2007, 2010 and most recently in 2015, these new proposals for the review of energy standards set through building regulations seek to deliver further improvement to the energy efficiency of new buildings and new building work, in line with our wider net zero ambitions.
Proposals (for mid-2022) will also address consequential changes to ventilation provision arising from improved energy standards, set out plans for assessment and mitigation of overheating risk in new dwellings and residential buildings, improve compliance with energy standards and seek views on separate proposals (for later implementation) for electric vehicle charging provision in new buildings and those subject to major renovation.
Seven draft guidance documents are issued in support of this consultation. These can be downloaded via links within the consultation document or via the links provided below.
Options for further improvement in our energy standards have been developed, in 2020 and 2021, through research and with the support and input of a working group of key industry stakeholders.
However, changes to our standards and supporting guidance apply at a national level to all development work across Scotland. The effect of a step change in the level of ambition for energy performance in construction is likely to be significant in some areas.
We therefore seek your views and evidence of the challenges and opportunities that are likely to be experienced as we look to reflect current good practice in the setting of minimum standards for new building work and introduce further changes which will support the broader intent to introduce a 2024 New Build Heat Standard.
We are also seperately seeking views on our proposals for the installation of electric vehicle charge points in parking spaces for new residential buildings and new and existing non-residential buildings.
The consultation closed on 26 November 2021. On 25 January 2022 we published all consultation responses where given permission to do so. A consultation report is now issued ad available below.
Final proposals have now been confirmed and published at Building regulations - Building standards - gov.scot (www.gov.scot).
Changes relating to EV charging proposals, will be confirmed and published later in 2022, for implementation in 2023.
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