The current market conditions are challenging for property development. Sky-high land prices, ever-increasing material costs and uncertain end valuations are just a few factors increasing developers’ risks. Let’s not go near the R-word.

Another significant set of challenges for developers is the updates to the Building Regulations (B Regs) introduced this year. B Regs set standards for building design and construction to ensure people’s safety and health, and to help conserve fuel and power.

Compliance with the B Regs is not optional. As the government marches us towards a net zero future, it’s no surprise the recent updates are far more demanding with regards to energy efficiency.
What’s changed you ask? Here’s a summary of the fundamental updates you need to know about:

Part F - Ventilation
Part F covers building ventilation and supports changes to Part L (see next). The goal is to ensure properties offer a high degree of air tightness and use technologies such as mechanical ventilation with heat recovery or traditional low and naturally ventilated methods.

Ventilation is important because it’s required to provide a healthy living environment. It also helps prevent heat loss or heat gain and therefore reduces emissions. See the earlier point about the march towards net zero.

Part L - Conservation of fuel and power
Part L is about reducing CO2 emissions through higher standards of insulation, more efficient heating systems and setting a maximum energy use for new buildings.