1. A New Regime for Building Control? Tracey Cull - Building Regulations and Standards, DCLG CIC: 21 February 2012

2. 2 Context Coalition priorities: Deregulate and streamline wherever possible Reduce burdens to business Smaller role for Government - Empower the individual Decentralisation, Localism and the “Big Society” Regulate only when essential after all other options rejected Regulation must be effective & deliver what it sets out to do One-In-One-Out on costs of regulation to business Reduce regulatory burden on housebuilding industry Micro-business Moratorium Red Tape Challenge Greenest Government ever – continuous improvement in energy efficiency of new housing Further improve compliance

3. 3 The review Future of Building Regulations Review launched 2010 Aim to see how the Regulations can be improved, added to, or slimmed down and deliver even better levels of compliance Over 200 responses (and 600+ for on Changing Places) but not a lot of unexpected issues or suggestions Also took onboard comments provided to Cut Red Tape Exercise and Your Freedom Website and other reviews eg FoBC, Penfold Worked closely with external partners to develop proposals Undertaken research to inform analysis of options Prepared supporting Impact Assessments to show cost effectiveness of options and consultation proposals Prepared consultation proposals in line with Government policies on deregulation, including OIOO, SR2010 and moratorium

4. 4 The consultation Technical Changes Proposed Introduce Eurocodes (Part A) Amend guidance on lighting diffusers & wall linings (Part B) Update radon maps (Part C) Update AD K to include relevant parts of AD M & N Improved guidance on needs for access statements (Part M) Update AD 7 to take account of the EU Construction Products Regulations Part L – increase standards for new buildings - step to zero carbon Part L – better delivery of as-built performance through QA processes Part L – better performance standards for some aspects of existing buildings Part L – consequential improvements Part P – more non-notifiable building work & introduce specialist third party checks NOT TAKING FORWARD: Security, Changing Places, removal of Part D, H6 or E4

5. 5 The Building Control System Role of Building Control System to help achieve compliance Key drivers for changes are: Reduce burdens Improve compliance Encourage industry to take greater responsibility for their actions Level the playing field between building control bodies Improving Local Authority (LA) processes Make issue of completion certificates mandatory & within a specified time period where building work is completed & considered compliant Amend wording on LA completion certificates & their equivalents Reduce number of statutory notifications & introduce requirement for “service plans” based on risk assessment NOT taking forward proposals to restrict use of building notices Improving Approved Inspector (AI) arrangements Amend AI Regulations to reduce burdens on both AIs and LAs Remove Warranty Link Rule

6. 6 The Building Control System Strengthening enforcement Align & extend time limits for s35 & 36 & increase fine limit? Introduce new civil enforcement sanctions under Regulatory & Enforcement Sanctions Act 2008: Stop Notices Compliance & Restoration Notices Penalties (fixed & variable) Enforcement undertakings What sanctions for what breaches? What level of penalties? Alternatives to supervision by Building Control? Extend competent person self-certification schemes framework? Introduce specialist third party certification schemes? What type of work? eg structural design? Introduce option for developers to use Appointed Persons (APs) on voluntary basis - complementary to supervision by building control? What qualifications/experience & roles/responsibilities should these have? On- site co-ordination?

7. 7 The Building Control System Proposals NOT being taken forward at the current time Scrap building regulations and BCS altogether Compulsory insurance instead of BR & BCS Compulsory insurance instead of BCS Nationalise the BCS Privatise the BCS Privatise the BCS but leave LAs with enforcement role Licensing of Building Control Officers Compulsory builder/installer registration instead of BCS Compulsory builder/installer registration as well as BCS Whole building self-certification Other Issues Interface with Planning especially re sustainability, local standards work Different models of service delivery – partnerships, outsourcing etc

8. 8 Responding to consultation & next steps Consultation timetable Consultation closes 27 April Part L consequential improvements / Green Deal aspect by 27 March To respond Consultation documents, impact assessments, research and response forms on DCLG website (Future of Building Regulations page): http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/buildingregulations/ buildingregulationschanges/ http://www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/buildingregulations/ buildingregulationschanges/ Email responses – preferably on standard form – to: building.regulations@communities.gsi.gov.uk We plan to respond with the following: Domestic consequential improvements – October 2012 Deregulatory and some other measures - April 2013 Non-domestic consequential improvements and other measures – 2014 Timings and transitional arrangements are discussed in the consultation

9. 9 Thank you!