Weekly Policy Update |
up to Friday 11th July 2025

The week in policy

Reformed Decent Homes Standard for Social and Privately Rented Homes

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for social and privately rented homes. The consultation aims to update the Decent Homes Standard which currently applies to social housing. The new standard will also apply to privately rented housing.

The reformed Decent Homes Standard will set out clearly what tenants should expect from their landlords and when it will be implemented.

This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 10 September 2025

More information can be found here.

Improving the Energy Efficiency of Socially Rented Homes in England

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have jointly published a consultation on improving the Energy Efficiency of Socially Rented Homes in England.

This consultation seeks views on setting a minimum energy efficiency standard (MEES) for socially rented homes for the first time.​

The Government is considering options to raise energy efficiency standards in the domestic social rented sector to make homes easier to heat, tackling fuel poverty and lowering carbon emissions.

This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 10 September 2025

More information can be found here.

Consideration of embodied carbon in new buildings 

Aecom produced a report, Consideration of Embodied Carbon in New Buildingswhich had been commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It explores the practical, technical, and economic impacts of measuring and reducing embodied carbon in new buildings, and highlights the need for consistent methodologies, improved data quality, and industry-wide upskilling to achieve significant carbon reductions. The report also identifies cost-effective carbon reduction measures and emphasises the importance of addressing barriers such as supply chain constraints, insurance issues, and skills shortages.

Thematic review on sustainability reporting  

The government has published a thematic review which assesses sustainability reporting in the annual reports of central government, highlighting variations in quality and scope. It recommends simplifying mandatory requirements, aligning with international standards, and focusing on material, decision-useful information. 

Building Safety Bill published in Wales 

The Welsh government has published a new building safety bill, which includes:  

• A programme of work aimed at addressing fire safety issues in multi-occupied residential buildings of 11 metres and above, 
• Reforms to the building control system,
• Introducing new regulations for high-risk buildings,
• Clearer responsibilities for duty holders, and
• Mandatory registration and regulation of building control professionals. 

Building on the 2021 Safer Buildings in Wales White Paper, the legislation forms part of the Welsh government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. 

MHCLG launches consultation on strengthening leaseholder protections 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced a consultation on the implementation of measures outlined in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. The consultation also seeks views on proposals for further reform related to the charges leaseholders and homeowners on freehold estates, pay and services they receive. We will be looking at the implications of these reforms for retrofit and sustainability standards. For more information, please speak to David Weatherall.  

ESNZ Committee sets out measures to end “energy planning chaos”  

Ministers should provide “certainty” and “avoid ambiguity” about what is expected from industry when it comes to energy infrastructure planning, the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee outlines in a new report. The parliamentary committee urges clearer guidance as the government shifts from a market-based system and calls for strategic plans to directly inform grid connection and consent decisions. Grid access should become a material consideration in planning. The report also advocates stronger enforcement of ecological enhancements and supports “nature-positive” infrastructure that integrates environmental and energy goals. Read the full report Gridlock or growth? Avoiding energy planning chaos.   

Oxford Brookes-led consortium launches research project into tackling barriers to a healthier and greener built environment 

 The Architectural Design and Humanities Promoting Transformation consortium has announced that it will support 20 fully funded postgraduate studentships at three partnering universities, Oxford Brookes, Cardiff and Falmouth, from October 2026. The funding is under the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s (a UKRI funding agency) inaugural doctoral focal award. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between research and practice in designing healthy places. Doctoral students will work on projects shaped in collaboration with a 13-member industry steering group. 

Competition and Markets Authority: seven housebuilders to pay £100m to affordable housing programmes

The Competition and Markets Authority has announced its investigation into anti-competitive behaviour from seven large house builders has concluded with the builders in question agreeing to share a £100m fee in commitments to split across affordable housing projects in the UK. 

Common Assessment Standard updated with mandatory building safety questions – Designing Buildings

On 1 July 2025, Build UK published an updated version of the Common Assessment Standard (CAS). The Building Safetysection must now be completed by all companies that carry out design or building work under the Building Safety Act. Completion of the Building Safetysection was ‘advisory’ for the first 12 months after its introduction in July 2024 to allow the industry to get up to speed with the new requirements; it is now mandatory.

BESA Building Safety Act Survey 

Support your fellow CE-Member BESA by taking a few minutes to help track progress on the Building Safety Act by completing the BESA BSA Industry Survey.
🔹 How has understanding of the Building Safety Act changed?
🔹 Are those with a grasp of competence and organisational capability taking action on compliance?
🔹 What barriers are holding back progress where it’s needed most?
👉 It only takes 10 minutes! Share your thoughts and please pass it on to your network, complete here by 4th August 2025.

NEWS

UK housebuilders offer to pay £100mn to end competition probe

BSR backlog swells as new build approvals run to 36 weeks | Construction Enquirer News

Saving England’s country houses needs innovative approaches

10 big road and rail upgrades get funding green light | Construction Enquirer News

Market forecast: Fragile optimism emerges in the UK construction sector | Features | Building

To Achieve Net Zero in the Built Environment, We Must Agree on Carbon Measurement

Coming up next week

 Monday 14July: The House of Commons will hear oral questions to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. 

 Tuesday 15July: The House of Commons will hear oral questions to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. 

Tuesday 15 July: The Industry and Regulators Committee will hear oral evidence from Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Building Control Independent Panel, as part of its Building Safety Regulator inquiry. 

Thursday 17July: The Built Environment Committee will hear oral evidence from Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister for Housing and Planning, as part of its New Towns: Practical Delivery inquiry.