BRE's 100-Day Roadmap – where are we now?

Following the election of a new government and BRE’s 100 day roadmap  being published in July, it is now time to review where the new government has got to with their policies, missions and new legislation, with the built environment being a key component of this.

Our asks of the new government supported Labour’s five missions to rebuild Britain, in particular the missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

BRE Asks can be read on the above link in full but the summary can be viewed below:

• A call for evidence on regulation and low carbon innovation in the construction and retrofit sector. Complex regulation can stand in the way of innovation for a better built environment, so the new government’s Regulatory Innovation Office is good news.  But the RIO’s initial focus will be on other fast growing sectors which do not include construction and retrofit. More details will be available when the International Investment Summit takes place on the 14th October. We welcome the progress on the Regulatory Innovation Office and want to see construction and retrofit at the top of its agenda.
• An announcement in the King’s Speech on the trajectory for building regulations. At the start of the year, under the last government, there was a consultation on higher energy standards and on a ban on fossil fuel heating in new buildings from 2025: the so called Future Homes Standard. But there’s been no news, in the King’s Speech or since, on how the new government will take this forward. 2025 has to be the end of the road for gas boilers in new homes – an announcement is now urgent.
• A robust and enforced Decent Homes Standard for the private rented sector. The new government has taken rapid action to start addressing poor housing in the private rented sector. This includes firm plans for the Decent Homes Standard to apply to the sector; it is a key component of the Renters’ Rights Bill which is currently going through Parliament. There will be a consultation on the Decent Homes Standard before the end of the year. We greatly welcome the progress made and BRE will provide our insight to government to help make the Standard a success for renters.
• The revoking of the previous administration’s Written Ministerial Statement limiting local energy efficiency standards. We’re not aware of any specific update on the previous government’s statement.  But planning reform is top priority for Labour with a consultation already undertaken on the National Planning Policy Framework. As government responds to the NPPF consultation, BRE would like a focus on how the planning system can support ambitious local sustainability standards as a way of delivering more and better homes.
• Retrofit in homes: Setting early, clear targets for the Warm Homes retrofit programme to provide supply chain and investor certainty. The government has made a number of announcements about reform to retrofit funding programmes, in support of its manifesto commitment to an extra £6.6 billion over the next five years in clean heat and energy efficiency for homes. We understand the Warm Homes Plan will come in the Spring. BRE will be commenting on the further detail of the proposals as they emerge.
• Retrofit in business buildings: Confirming the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)   “B” minimum standard for rented business premises, to take effect from the late 2020s. The previous government indicated that a rented commercial property would need to meet an EPC ‘B’ standard by the late 2020s but it never published clear plans on this, confusing the industry. The situation remains the same: in fact, under the new government there’s been a lack of news on energy, carbon and sustainability in non-domestic buildings so far.  We’re hoping for announcements on standards for non-domestic buildings alongside the plan for home retrofit in the Spring.
• Commit to the use of the “Constructing the Gold Standard” Verification scheme in procurement across government departments, public sector agencies and operations. There is no commitment to this as of yet, but we are hoping the Procurement Act that is to become law in February will allow an opportunity for the commitment to the scheme being used across government. BRE will continue to work with government departments to support them in adopting high standards and best practice in government procurement for buildings.
• A consultation on changes to the home Energy Performance Certificate system. BRE wants to see EPCs strengthened  to help building owners on the road to net zero. Announced at Labour Party Conference by the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, a consultation on EPCs is due to take place by the end of this year.
• An announcement of plans for the National Data Library. The new National Data Library described in Labour’s manifesto is a welcome plan to ensure government funded research translates rapidly into delivery and will be an essential for a mission-focused government. This would be of huge benefit to us in terms of bringing together existing research programmes and data. According to a Labour Party Conference event with the Secretary of State for Science Innovation and Technology, the Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP and Minister for Science, Lord Sir Patrick Vallance, an announcement regarding the National Data Library is imminent.
• A Department for Business and Trade roundtable on building standards and certification services to inform the new government’s trade strategy. With a green paper expected on industrial strategy, trade strategy should go hand in hand. And we’d hope that an announcement on trade strategy would recognise building standards and certifications, noting, for example that BREEAM is exported to nearly 90 countries around the world. This is an agenda BRE will continue to promote with the government.

As you can see, we have had some success in our policy asks, and some well paved intentions that will be beyond the initial 100 days of the new government’s programme. In addition, a number of the well paved intentions are feasible within the first year and we look forward to seeing the results of this.