Steve Evans BSc (Hons) MBA C.Build.E FCABE

Senior Area Technical Manager

National House Building Council (NHBC)

Hello and welcome to this edition of Planning and Building Control Today. When considering what to write for this edition I reflected on the tone of my last couple of columns and the theme of change. I probably need to change the subject now I have been thinking – Optional Regulations now implemented, new government policy on housing becoming clearer etc., time for a rest and period of consolidation I think.

How wrong could I be, because just as one change is implemented the next round of policies, proposals and initiatives are launched. The first one of these and perhaps the most significant is the introduction of sprinklers to all new dwellings in Wales from January 1st 2016. This will make Wales the first country in the world to mandatorily require sprinklers to new homes in an initiative to increase life safety and reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by fires in the home. The next biggest change has been the English government’s announcement that the 2016 Zero Carbon strategy in England was to be dropped meaning that we will have no 2016 edition of Part L and Allowable solutions will no longer be introduced whilst the whole policy is reviewed. Rumour has it that we may see a new Part L in 2018 to align our policy here in England with the European Directive on “Nearly Zero Energy Homes” but only time will tell.

We then have a whole series of consultations and investigations being launched by the home government. England, Scotland and Wales have all launched consultations on broadband infrastructure. In England and Wales this will result in a new Approved Documents in each jurisdiction “Part R”. Again the requirement is to line up with European legislation and will require facilities to be installed in all new buildings to enable the easy installation of superfast broadband in the future. The English and Welsh consultation closes in early 2016. The Scottish consultation closed in November 2015.

DCLG in England are undertaking exploratory work across a wide variety of the regulations to see if revisions are needed. Many of these may result in their own consultations and changes which will affect the way we build for years to come. Part B – Means of Escape is being looked at in world of BS9991 and BS9999 as well as its usability. Work on Part C – Weathertightness is being examined to see if it is still relevant in respect of today’s construction methods and to see if more detail is needed to ensure water tight structures. The air quality in new homes is the focus of work on Part F – Ventilation, as we make structures more air tight and insulated and finally work on Part M Category 1 will take a fresh look at the minimum level of compliance to see if it is still suitable in today’s society.

With all of this happening, I have no idea what to write in my next column…