Energy efficiency and buildings

Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the UK has committed to reducing carbon emissions.

The former Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) published: The carbon plan—delivering our low carbon future in December 2011 under the Climate Change Act 2008. On 14 July 2016, DECC was merged with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to form the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). BEIS was split in 2023 to form the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Department for Energy

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Latest Planning News

Mayor of London publishes London Infrastructure Framework to 2050

The Mayor of London has published the London Infrastructure Framework (LIF), developed jointly with London Councils. The framework sets out a long-term plan to unlock growth by addressing increasing pressures on London’s transport, energy, water, waste, and digital connectivity systems. It identifies 51 priority projects across key sectors aimed at securing London’s future competitiveness. These include upgrades to transport routes, electricity tunnels, digital connectivity, and long-term flood protection. The framework is intended to support housing delivery, drive job creation, and upgrade the London transport network. It also outlines how London can remain at the forefront of technological development while responding to the demands of a growing AI sector, alongside the need for additional housing and other forms of development. More broadly, the framework seeks to harness new infrastructure investment.

Environmental Outcomes Reports—government response on replacing EIA and SEA

Planning analysis: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published its response to the March 2023 consultation on Environmental Outcomes Reports (EORs), confirming its intention to use the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 powers to replace existing EIA and SEA processes with a new outcomes-based assessment framework. The response, read alongside the published ‘Roadmap to reform’, signals further consultation on draft regulations and a managed transition, with the government aiming to bring forward EORs by the end of 2027.

Court of Appeal rules on interpretation of reserved matters and s 73 amendments (Wildfish v Buckinghamshire Council)

Planning analysis: In Wildfish v Buckinghamshire Council, the Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge to the approval of reserved matters for a housing development. It confirmed that drainage scheme requirements in planning conditions were not reserved matters and were not subject to reserved matters submission deadlines and that a variation to the description of the reserved matters application was not a substantive amendment.

Secretary of State for Transport issues section 35 direction for Heathrow West Terminal project under Planning Act 2008

The Secretary of State for Transport has issued a section 35 direction under the Planning Act 2008 for the Heathrow West Terminal Project, following a request from Heathrow West Limited received on 17 December 2025. The direction allows the proposed development to be treated as requiring development consent even if it does not meet the thresholds for a nationally significant infrastructure project. The development comprises a new passenger terminal building, a satellite pier and expanded airfield infrastructure, with capacity for 40 million passengers per annum. The Secretary of State concluded that the development is nationally significant within the meaning of PA 2008, s 35(2)(c), and falls within the qualifying transport infrastructure field. However, requests concerning the application of the Airports National Policy Statement and pre-direction consultation compliance were rejected, on the basis that such matters fall outside the scope of PA 2008, s 35 directions.