England: HCLG Committee launches inquiry into regulation of social housing

Social housing – is it fit for purpose? The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee launches an inquiry examining the quality and regulation of social housing in England. Inquiry: Regulation of social housing Housing, Commmunity and Local Government Committee Social housing is rented at...

England: All social homes required to have smoke alarms fitted

Social Fire Safety! People living in social housing will be safer in their homes under new rules that will mean smoke alarms must be fitted in all rented accommodation. People living in social housing will be safer in their homes under new rules that will...

Scotland: Building Regulations – compliance and enforcements: consultation

Scotland welcomes your comments by 4 Feb 2022!  Building Standards Division (BSD), is developing a national Compliance Plan approach to provide greater assurance that compliance with building regulations is achieved from design to completion. This consultation seeks to obtain the views on the development of...

ICC: Updated IBC Handbook and Accessibility PocketBook, plus new Study Pack

An opportunity to update your library.  Updated IBC Handbook and Accessibility PocketBook, plus new Study Pack Updated support references designed to help you learn, interpret and apply the latest building safety requirements Order your helpful IBC references today!...

UK’s post-Brexit environmental watchdog officially formed

Environment Bill -action announced! After the Environment Bill received Royal Assent last week, the UK Government has confirmed the legal formation of its post-Brexit environmental watchdog. The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) was originally meant to be fully operational by the end of January 2021....

UK facing green industry supply chain pressures, urged to boost recycling and productivity

Energy – Green Alliance Report. The UK is facing a supply chain crunch on critical components needed for green industries like electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, with a new Green Alliance report calling for the UK to build up domestic recycling of these valuable materials as...

IEA: Rate of energy efficiency improvements needs to double to put world on track for net-zero

Energy – an International update! Globally, energy efficiency has improved in 2021 after a rocky 2020, according to a new analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA). But the rate of progress will need to at least double to put the world on track for...

Enviva and J-Power Join Efforts to Decarbonize Power Generation in Japan

Decarbonisation – a global goal! Enviva Partners, a global renewable energy company specializing in sustainable wood bioenergy, and Tokyo-based utility Electric Power Development Co., have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the long-term, large-scale supply of sustainable wood biomass from Enviva’s manufacturing facilities in the...

Civil Society Access to the United Nations Headquarters in New York

WOBO thanks Governor Omkar Nath Channan for the update linked to the United Nations. After careful review, the temporary restrictions limiting civil society access to the United Nations Headquarters Complex (UNHQ) due to the COVID-19 pandemic are being gradually lifted. Effective immediately, civil society representatives...

High rise residential buildings: Preliminary serious incident scenarios and potential control measures

Safety; Risk and Control – a hand in hand process. Following the Grenfell Tower disaster, the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety concluded that the UK building safety system is inadequate. The Government accepted the review’s recommendation for a new regulatory framework. A...

©2025 All Rights Reserved World Organization of Building Officials.

MENU