Weekly Policy Update |
up to Friday 31st October 2025
Information provided by National Constructing Excellence
Government announcements
Carbon budget and growth delivery plan published
The UK government’s new carbon budget and growth delivery plan has been published and prioritises clean energy and climate action to drive economic renewal. With over £50bn in private investment and a goal to double clean energy jobs by 2030, the strategy supports home upgrades, EV adoption, industrial decarbonisation, and nature restoration – positioning the UK as a global leader in the net zero transition.
MHCLG publishes final report on access to and use of buildings in the built environment
MHCLG has published a report commissioned by the then Department for Levelling Up into how well the built environment in England meets the needs of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions. The key takeaway is that the built environment is not meeting the needs of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, with more than 10% of survey respondents not able to participate in an activity outside their home in the past week. The Department also published a report commissioned by the previous government on domestic stair design.
Department for Education pledges to remove dangerous concrete from schools by the next election
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, has announced the government is setting out plans to remove dangerous Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) from schools ahead of the next general election. Of the 237 schools with confirmed RAAC, 123 would be rebuilt through the School Rebuilding Programme and 108 would receive government grants.
Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) publish Research and Development (R&D) plans to 2029/2030
DSIT has outlined £58.5bn in R&D funding through 2029/30 to drive innovation and economic growth. The investment is expected to deliver strong returns, with £8 of benefit for every £1 spent. Budgets are currently indicative and may shift across years or programmes to improve impact and value for money.
Renters’ Rights Bill receives Royal Assent and Awaab’s Law comes into effect
MHCLG has announced that the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 came into law on Monday.
For private renters, the Act includes the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and pledges to bring the Decent Homes Standard and Awaab’s Law into the private rented sector.
Awaab’s Law has also come into effect in the social housing sector – requiring rapid, timely action on home hazards by social housing providers. The law applies initially to damp and mould but is planned to be extended to other areas of home health hazards. Meanwhile, the Housing Ombudsman has identified more than 20 social landlords with failings in how they dealt with damp and mould cases.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) DEFRA announces changes to the environmental permitting system
DEFRA has announced that the Environment Agency will be empowered to consider which activity should be exempt from requiring environmental permits, in order to speed up housebuilding and infrastructure delivery.
House of Lords Built Environment Committee publishes its new towns report
Following its inquiry into new towns, the Built Environment Committee has published its full report. The report calls for strong and dedicated central government leadership and a new agency to run and oversee the delivery programme. The report also stated that funding is one of the most critical issues facing the programme, with a clear route to encouraging the funding being building the infrastructure such as schools and hospitals first.
Implementation of the Employment Rights Bill
The Department for Business and Trade has published four consultations in relation to the implementation of the employment rights bill.
- Make Work Pay: trade union right of access: The Employment Rights Bill will introduce a new framework for trade unions to access workplaces physically, and to communicate with workers in person or digitally. The consultation can be found here.
- Make Work Pay: duty to inform workers of right to join a union: The Employment Rights Bill will introduce a new duty on employers to give a written statement to their workers, informing them of their right to join a trade union at the start of their employment and at other times. The consultation can be found here.
- Make Work Pay: enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers: The government is introducing legislation which will make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers who return to work for at least a 6-month period after they return – except in specific circumstances. The consultation can be found here.
- Make Work Pay: leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss: The Employment Rights Bill introduced a new day-one right to unpaid bereavement leave for employees who experience the loss of a loved one, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.The consultation can be found here.
In the News
England’s most deprived areas named – with Jaywick topping list – BBC News
Right-to-work reform targets construction subbies | Construction Enquirer News