The Scottish Government's Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate has published a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) report to inform the recently published consultation on options for new or amended permitted development rights (PDRs) to support the provision of new homes. The SEA examines the environmental impacts of proposed PDR changes across four areas: rural homes, town centre living, householder development and low/zero carbon heating and cooling. The report identifies potential adverse effects of the proposed changes on biodiversity, cultural heritage and water management. It also suggests monitoring and mitigation measures, such as imposing conditions or restrictions on specific PDRs, retaining or requiring prior notification and promoting guidance and best practice to support high quality development in appropriate locations.

The Scottish Government has published its September 2024 quarterly report on heat network projects, summarising and providing information on the capital and pre-capital projects funded by Scotland’s Heat Network Fund, Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund, and the Heat Network Support Unit.

The Scottish Government's Cladding Remediation Directorate has published its September 2025 management information for the Cladding Remediation Programme. As of 30 September 2025, 16 Single Building Assessments (SBAs) had been completed under the specification published in June 2024, all of which identified the need for remedial works. At this stage, the programme is not aware of any SBAs currently underway but not yet completed. By the same date, the programme had received 1,062 expressions of interest (EoIs) through the Single Open Call, launched on 25 March 2025. Of these, 368 were deemed ineligible for SBA funding, while 478 had received initial grant or funding offers. With up to £50,000 offered per EoI to cover the cost of an SBA, the programme had offered almost £24m in total SBA funding. EoIs were submitted by a range of applicants, including factors or property managers (535), local authorities (313) and registered social landlords (205). Cumulative expenditure for the programme from financial year 2021/22 to 30 September 2025 stood at £14.2m.

The Scottish Government has published the Single Building Assessment (SBA) Specification Document. The document details the methodology for the proper conduction of an SBA, which forms part of the standards outlined in section 25(1)(c) of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill. It also outlines the standards for the conduction of an Additional Work Assessment as specified in s 26A of the Bill.

The Scottish Government has published an analysis of consultation responses on proposals to improve the accessibility, adaptability and usability of new homes in Scotland. The findings will inform updates to the Housing for Varying Needs design guide and the development of a Scottish Accessible Homes Standard, to be implemented through changes to building standards and guidance across all housing tenures. The consultation received 114 responses, with broad support for the proposed design guide updates. Respondents highlighted benefits for accessibility and meeting the needs of an ageing population. However, they raised concerns about potential construction and maintenance costs, reduced usable space and possible effects on housing affordability and supply. The analysis notes that respondents did not provide evidence to support the anticipated effects on prices, rents and supply. Views varied on applying the proposed criteria to all new homes, and some respondents warned that proposed exceptions could weaken provisions for wheelchair users.

The Scottish Government has released the agreed record of fisheries consultations held between the UK, EU and Norway between 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. The consultations considered mutual fisheries relations for sprat in ICES Division 3a, Subarea 4 and Division 2a for the fishing season from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

The Scottish Government (SG) has published all the requested correspondence related to meetings held with Scottish Women’s Aid on the topic of a leavers fund to support victims of domestic abuse to leave abusive relationships. The information requested and the response supplied were done under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

The Scottish Government has published a summary and analysis of the responses received from its consultation on the waste, wastewater and drainage policy. The consultation closed on 21 February 2024, and received 492 responses.

The Scottish Government's Building Standards Division has published a blog post detailing plans to strengthen the building standards compliance regime through a new Compliance Plan Approach (CPA). The CPA introduces several key components, including a new Compliance Plan (CP) and the role of Compliance Plan Manager (CPM), alongside enhanced enforcement measures under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. The CP will be created and managed by the CPM and will be approved by local authority building standards verifiers as part of the building warrant application before construction begins. While legislative changes will be required to fully implement the CPM role, the Scottish Government plans to proceed with implementing the CP process through guidance starting in 2026. This will include revised guidance on verification during construction, applying to new qualifying building projects requiring a building warrant.

The Local Government and Housing Directorate and Cladding Remediation Directorate have published new guidance on verifying cladding remediation building warrant applications. This guidance supports the implementation of the Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2022, SI 2022/136, which banned combustible cladding materials for buildings over 11 metres effective 1 June 2022. Under these regulations, materials must achieve European Classification A1 or A2-s1, d0 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1:2018 standards. Separately, Cabinet Secretary for Housing Mairi McAllan has reported that Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Barratt Redrow and Springfield have signed the Developer Remediation Contract published on 21 November 2025. Meanwhile, Miller, Cala, and Bellway have confirmed they are in the process of signing the contract.

The Scottish Government published two related documents, addressing building safety reforms. A new £10m Single Building Assessment scheme will allow property owners to apply for government-funded cladding assessments, complementing existing developer and government-led processes. The Government simultaneously released its response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, addressing 58 recommendations on building regulations, product testing, and fire safety systems. The publications acknowledge that previous remediation efforts were too slow and propose plans to accelerate the pace of assessment and remediation work across Scotland.

The Scottish Government has published its annual monitoring report on the Climate Change Plan for 2024, detailing progress against the targets set by the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019. The monitoring framework for the report assessed progress through greenhouse gas emissions statistics, policy outcome indicators and a policy tracker to ensure transparency and accountability. The report highlights significant development across various sectors, driven by over 200 policies aimed at achieving net zero emissions by 2045. Key initiatives include the updated Agricultural Reform Route Map, the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill, the New Build Heat Standard, and proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill.