Sustainable procurement

Sustainable procurement—content

  1. Social value and public procurement—which provides an overview of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, which requires contracting authorities to consider the wider social, economic and environmental impact of the services they procure before embarking on a public procurement process, with a view to maximising the social benefits. It sets out the scope of application, key requirements and explains the interplay with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015

  2. A guide to sustainable public procurement—which is a guide to the implementation of sustainable procurement under Directive 2014/24/EU and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. It identifies the main ways in which this can be achieved, such as the application of labels to technical specifications and sustainability assessments during selection and award. It also considers the use of performance requirements as a way to include

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DESNZ launches industry engagement for new Hydrogen Network Code development

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has announced the commencement of industry engagement on the development of a new Hydrogen Network Code (the Code) for hydrogen pipeline networks. Network codes are legal documents forming the basis of arrangements between network owners and users. As set out in the government’s response to the Hydrogen Economic Regulatory Frameworks Consultation, government will lead the development of the Code in partnership with industry and in close collaboration with Ofgem and other relevant stakeholders. DESNZ will host an introductory webinar in April 2026 to outline its proposed engagement approach and the process for developing the first issue of the Code. Industry engagement will take place at two levels: (1) a Code Engagement Forum, open to all Code-relevant stakeholders and intended to provide periodic updates on Code development; and (2) a smaller Code Advisory Group, comprising representatives of interests across hydrogen pipeline networks, with membership determined via an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to be launched during the webinar. The engagement is expected to be relevant to prospective hydrogen producers, transporters, storage providers and offtakers, including industrial users and hydrogen-to-power plants, as well as trade bodies, with further details on selection criteria and Terms of Reference to be provided at the first session.

Defra introduces strategic policy statements to accelerate environmental planning approvals

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), alongside the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England have introduced new Strategic Policy Statements directing the regulators to prioritise outcomes over administrative processes in planning and environmental assessments in order to accelerate approvals for housing, transport and clean energy projects while maintaining environmental standards. The measures are supported by £100m over three years to recruit specialist staff and develop modern digital systems that will enable regulators to complete environmental assessments more quickly and accurately. Defra has also established a new Infrastructure Unit to monitor major infrastructure projects and address planning issues as they arise, with complex matters referred to the Defra Infrastructure Board, and will convene a Development Industry Council to bring government and developers together to discuss practical solutions to planning challenges. In addition, the EA has been appointed as the Lead Environmental Regulator for the East West Rail project to coordinate advice from multiple environmental bodies and streamline the approvals process. The rail scheme is expected to support 100,000 new homes, improve connectivity between Oxford and Cambridge and generate £6.7bn in economic growth as part of the wider Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor, which could add up to £78bn to the UK economy by 2035.

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