Timetable of Bills and Consultations

Department of Communities and Local Government Consultation on the Proposed changes to Part L and Part F of the building regulations.

This consultation sets out the proposed changes to Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) and Part F (Means of Ventilation) of the Building Regulations that are planned to come into force in 2010.

The consultation also proposes a range of measures, including a strategy for training and dissemination, designed to further improve the levels of compliance and performance in buildings

For further information on the consultation please refer to the Communities and Local government website here.

For technical issue questions relating to this consultation, you should email your question to: PartFandLConsultationhelpdesk@bsria.co.uk

Response deadline: 18 September 2009

Department of Energy and Climate Change Consultation on the Standard Assessment Procedure

The purpose of this technical consultation is to seek views on the proposed amendments to the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) methodology, the UK Government's tool for assessing the energy performance of dwellings.

The consultation invites views on the SAP methodology, particularly in the following areas where changes are proposed:

• Revised algorithms for the assessment of domestic hot water efficiency.
• Impacts of space cooling (air conditioning), an addition to the methodology.
• An explicit allowance for the impacts of thermal mass.
• Revised internal heat gains assumptions.

In addition, they are seeking views on the methodology for establishing carbon dioxide emission factors that has been developed by the BRE; whilst it is not part of the SAP methodology, it is information that SAP relies upon. The methodology attempts to set out in a transparent manner how carbon emission factors used by SAP are established. It should be noted that the factors can vary over time and the figures obtained by applying the methodology will be review in 2012 and periodically thereafter.

The consultation is being run on DECC's behalf by BRE (Building Research Establishment).

For further information http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/consult_sap/consult_sap.aspx

Details of how to submit a response can be accessed on the BRE website.

Response deadline: 12 August 2009

Defra consultation on draft guidance on how to measure and report your greenhouse gas emissions

This is a joint Defra and DECC public consultation on draft guidance for how UK organisations should measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions required by the Climate Change ActThe final guidance will be published by 1 October 2009 following consultation.

For further information: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/greenhouse-gas/index.htm

Response deadline: 7 August 2009

Scottish Government consultation on the draft Housing (Scotland) Bill

This consultation sets out proposals for a Housing (Scotland) Bill that the Scottish Government proposes to introduce to Scottish Parliament in 2010. Amongst the proposals are:

• An end to Right to Buy Properties - new tenants would not be entitled to Right to Buy on social housing.
• Creating a Scottish Social Housing Charter which would outline outcomes and standards that social landlords should achieve.

For further information: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/270415/0080551.pdf.

Response deadline: 14 August 2009.

Scottish Government consultation on the draft Cycling Action Plan for Scotland

Currently 2% of people cycle to work and 1% of children cycle to school. The Cycling Action Plan for Scotland has an overarching aim to 'get people cycling more often' and aims to bring this about by achieving four key objectives:

• To create communities where people can cycle safely and comfortably.
• For cycling to be the natural choice for daily journeys.
• To give people the information and encouragement to make cycling an attractive option.
• Legal powers to promote access and keep cyclists safe.

For further information: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/273788/0081826.pdf.

Response deadline: 20 August 2009.

Scottish Government consultation on low carbon vehicles and alternative fuels

Efficient transport is key to achieving Scotland's ambitious emission reduction targets, and uptake of low carbon vehicles will be one of a number of measures to mitigate against climate change. This consultation recognises the public sector in having a key role in moving to a low carbon fleet - through fleet management and infrastructure development. Proposed targets include:

• All public sector fleet vehicles to be low carbon vehicles by 2020.
• 95% of vehicles purchased in 2020 to be low carbon vehicles.

For further information: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/277292/0083254.pdf.

Response deadline: 2 October 2009.