Weekly Policy Update |
up to Friday 30th May 2025

Constructing Excellence White Paper – Performance Measurement – Why should we measure?

Recently the Performance measurement group has been undertaking a series of work exploring the what, why and how of measuring performance on construction projects. The outcomes of this work have now been pulled together to form the basis of the group’s first white paper, ‘Why Should We Measure?’. Performance Measurement- Why Should We Measure? – Constructing Excellence

The week in policy

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announces reforms to help smaller housebuilders

On Wednesday 28 May, MHCLG unveiled plans to reform complex planning rules to help small and medium enterprise (SME) housebuilders. Currently, sites with as few as 10 homes face the same regulatory hurdles as much larger developments. The proposals aim to reduce this burden by easing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements for minor developments of up to nine homes, the creation of a ‘medium site’ category, covering sites between 10 to 49 homes that would be exempt from the Building Safety Levy and BNG rules. The announcement also includes £100m in SME accelerator loans, £10m for councils to fund specialists and a £1.2m property technology innovation fund. Related to these proposals, the government is inviting views on action it could take to encourage a faster build-out rate as well as a consultation on the reform of planning committees. The Times reports that ministers argue the reforms will increase certainty and reduce delays, but councils and planning bodies have raised concerns about the erosion of local democratic oversight. 

The Department for Education (DfE) announces skills reform for builders and carers across Britain

On Tuesday 27 May, DfE announced that young people are set to benefit from 120,000 new training opportunities in a push to focus on careers the country needs. As reported in Inside Housing, the plans, backed by a £3bn apprenticeship budget, aims to train more brickies, carpenters and healthcare support workers. To support this, the government is implementing a 32% increase in the immigration skills charge, an additional fee paid by a sponsoring employer, announced in the immigration white paper. It will also redirect funding away from Level 7 (master’s degree equivalent level) apprenticeships and introduce 13 new Level 2 construction courses for adults.

In the news

Planning change to make installing heat pump easier for millions – BBC News

BBC News reports that the planning restriction requiring heat pumps to be at least one metre from a neighbour’s property has been lifted. The change is expected to make installation easier, particularly in England’s 5.7 million terraced homes, where space constraints often made compliance difficult. The planning reforms also relax rules around the size and number of units allowed per property. The move follows concerns from installers and energy companies that the previous rule created costly delays and discouraged adoption. Newer heat pumps are quieter, reducing the original noise concerns that led to the one-metre rule.

Let’s not wait for fatal accidents to happen – The Guardian

The Guardian has published a letter highlighting the sharp rise in preventable accidents in the UK over the past decade. Research by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents published in April, shows that the rate of accidental deaths has surged by 42% in the past decade. The letter calls for a government plan to address the issue as responsibility is fragmented across many departments.

Wildlife charities urge Labour to scrap ‘licence to kill nature’ in planning bill – The Guardian

The Guardian has published an article highlighting that wildlife charities are calling on the government to scrap a significant section of the planning bill that they say is a “licence to kill nature”.

Landlords can force tenants to pay for insulation demanded by Miliband – The Telegraph

The Telegraph reports that landlords will be able to pass on the cost of upgrading rental properties to tenants to meet new net-zero energy efficiency standards of an EPC rating C by 2030. The article reports that this contradicts previous assurances from Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, that rents would not increase to reach targets. The Conservatives estimate that rents could rise as much as £4,000 a year to cover the cost of upgrading older properties, while the government claims tenants will save £240 a year on their energy bills as a result of better insulation. 

Coming up next week

Tuesday 3 June: The Built Environment Committee will hear oral evidence for their New Towns: Practical Delivery inquiry.