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

Secretary of State grants development consent for Mona Offshore Wind Farm

The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero has granted development consent for the Mona Offshore Wind Farm project. The project will involve the construction of an offshore wind farm with an approximate capacity of 1,500 megawatts (MW) in the Irish Sea, awarded under the Round 4 Offshore Wind Licensing Arrangements.

DESNZ publishes onshore wind strategy

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its onshore wind strategy, detailing how the UK government plans to scale up the deployment of onshore wind to support its 2030 clean power targets. The strategy sets out 42 government commitments aimed at removing barriers to onshore wind deployment and serves as the primary output from the Onshore Wind Taskforce, which was established in July 2024 and has since disbanded.

PINS to roll out online appeals service across England

The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has announced plans to roll out its new online appeals service across England, following successful pilot testing with five London boroughs. The digital service is intended to streamline the submission and management of appeals, provide local planning authorities (LPAs) with a dashboard for case review and monitoring, and reduce reliance on paper-based processes.

MHCLG announces £39bn social housing programme with new regulatory framework

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), led by Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner MP, and Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, has announced a £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The scheme aims to deliver roughly 300,000 new homes over ten years. It also introduces regulatory changes, including an updated Decent Homes Standard for private rentals, new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for social housing and a ten—year rent settlement starting in April 2026. A consultation on rent convergence measures will inform the Autumn Budget decision. This initiative forms a key element of the government’s broader Plan for Change, which aims to address the housing crisis and improve living standards, especially for the more than 165,000 children currently living in temporary accommodation.