Overview

Scottish building regulations set minimum standards applicable to new buildings and to new work to existing buildings.

Our recent draft Heat in Buildings Strategy sets out our vision for decarbonising heat and reducing energy demand across all buildings in Scotland, setting out the scale of the investment opportunity and supporting our green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Following review in 2007, 2010 and most recently in 2015, these new proposals for the review of energy standards set through building regulations seek to deliver further improvement to the energy efficiency of new buildings and new building work, in line with our wider net zero ambitions.

Proposals (for mid-2022) will also address consequential changes to ventilation provision arising from improved energy standards, set out plans for assessment and mitigation of overheating risk in new dwellings and residential buildings, improve compliance with energy standards and seek views on separate proposals (for later implementation) for electric vehicle charging provision in new buildings and those subject to major renovation.

Seven draft guidance documents are issued in support of this consultation.  These can be downloaded via links within the consultation document or via the links provided below.

Why your views matter

Options for further improvement in our energy standards have been developed, in 2020 and 2021, through research and with the support and input of a working group of key industry stakeholders.

However, changes to our standards and supporting guidance apply at a national level to all development work across Scotland. The effect of a step change in the level of ambition for energy performance in construction is likely to be significant in some areas.

We therefore seek your views and evidence of the challenges and opportunities that are likely to be experienced as we look to reflect current good practice in the setting of minimum standards for new building work and introduce further changes which will support the broader intent to introduce a 2024 New Build Heat Standard.

We are also seperately seeking views on our proposals for the installation of electric vehicle charge points in parking spaces for new residential buildings and new and existing non-residential buildings.

Read the consultation paper.

Updates

Consultation versions of the iSAP and iSBEM calculation tools are now available at scotland.isap.org.uk/ and www.uk-ncm.org.uk/page. The consultation period has also been extended. Consultation now closes on 29 October 2021.