Building regulations

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Construction projects are subject to a vast array of legislation and regulation. Among the most significant are building regulations. An awareness of the requirements of these regulations, and the implications of not complying with them, is very important for all concerned in construction projects.

The Building Regulations are made under powers provided in Building Act 1984 (BA 1984), and apply in England and Wales. The current edition is the Building Regulations 2010, SI 2010/2214 (the Building Regs). The majority of building projects are required to comply with these regulations—including most new buildings and many alterations to existing buildings.

The Building Regs promote:

  1. •

    standards for most aspects of a building's construction, including its structure, fire safety, sound insulation, drainage, ventilation and electrical safety

  2. •

    energy efficiency in buildings, and

  3. •

    the needs of all people, including those with disabilities, in accessing and moving around buildings. They set standards for buildings to be accessible and hazard-free wherever possible

Schedule 1 to the Building Regs sets out various requirements in relation to the design and construction of buildings:

  1. •

    Part A—Structural safety

  2. •

    Part B—Fire safety

  3. •

    Part

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The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) has published a report by Currie & Brown, forecasting that global construction costs will rise by 2.4% in 2026, with UK costs expected to increase by 3.6%. The cost management and advisory services provider noted that the Autumn Budget introduced no new tax incentives for construction, while wage and tax changes have increased the pressure on the industry.

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The Scottish Government has launched  a consultation seeking views on measures to accelerate the build-out of homes on sites already identified for housing development, in response to falling housing starts and completions despite a substantial pipeline of consented land. The consultation supports the Housing Emergency Action Plan and related planning commitments, and examines whether incentives, penalties or other interventions could increase delivery rates, including for small and medium-sized housebuilders, within a plan-led, infrastructure-first framework under National Planning Framework 4. It is informed by evidence that slow delivery is driven primarily by post-consent factors such as market absorption rates, viability constraints, infrastructure costs, public sector risk exposure and limited developer capacity or commitment, rather than by the planning permission process itself. Drawing on previous reviews and research by bodies including the Competition and Markets Authority and the Scottish Land Commission, the consultation outlines potential approaches such as land assembly, public sector-led development, reform of compulsory purchase and sales powers, and policy tools to influence build-out rates, and notes that any future action may require legislative change in the next parliamentary session and would be subject to appropriate impact assessment. The consultation closes on 30 April 2026.

RICS reports UK construction activity remained subdued in Q4 2025

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Construction weekly highlights—5 February 2026

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