Energy efficiency and buildings

Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the UK has committed to reducing carbon emissions.

The former Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) published: The carbon plan—delivering our low carbon future in December 2011 under the Climate Change Act 2008. On 14 July 2016, DECC was merged with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to form the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). BEIS was split in 2023 to form the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Department for Energy

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Latest Planning News

PINS updates RoW guidance and archives certain advice notes

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has consolidated several of its Rights of way (RoW) advice notes, including 1, 3, 9, 16, 20, 21, 22, and 23, into the appendices of the RoW guidance booklet. Advice notes addressing policy and legal matters, including 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14 15, 19, which fall outside PINS’ remit, will no longer be updated and will be archived. Additionally, the consistency guidelines have also been archived and will not be updated.

Planning weekly highlights—21 November 2024

This week's edition of Planning weekly highlights includes: a written ministerial statement on housing, Welsh consultations on changes to planning services in Wales, including increased planning fees, and new regulations for the control of works to trees, new PINS guidance on statements of common ground for appeals, and publication of the November 2024 planning update newsletter.

UKGBC launches second consultation on Climate Resilience Roadmap

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has launched a second consultation on the Climate Resilience Roadmap, aimed at assisting the built environment in adapting to climate change. The consultation document outlines five key policy recommendations, including prioritising climate safety at a national level under the Prime Minister's leadership, reforming the planning system, and ensuring existing and new buildings are prepared for future climate hazards. The consultation also seeks feedback on updated proposals from the UKGBC’s July 2024 consultation, with the aim of refining the roadmap before its final publication. The final roadmap, scheduled for publication in March 2025, will comprise a policy recommendations report, technical guidance, and an interactive 'vulnerability to climate hazards' web map. The consultation closes on 6 January 2025.

Demolition and rebuild, re-use, embodied carbon (Smallbrook v BCC)

Planning analysis: This judgment considers the tension between proposals seeking to reuse and repurpose buildings and those seeking to demolish and rebuild them and will be of relevance to those involved in regeneration projects which consider the two alternatives. Lang J in the High Court refused to grant permission for a judicial review challenging the grant of a consent for a scheme of demolition and rebuild. She held that there was no specific local policy which required consideration of embodied carbon and that the council had not erred in law or misled the planning committee. The second ground related to the consideration of alternatives during the application process, and the degree to which local authorities are required to outline the reasons for the decision in respect of this. The court held that the council was compliant with the EIA Regulations 2017 and its reasoning for granting planning permission for the proposed development was intelligible and adequate. Written by Elizabeth Dunn, partner, and Sarah Sutherland, practice development lawyer at Burges Salmon LLP.