Environmental legislation for building design and construction
This article summarises UK environmental legislation relating to buildings design and development. In some cases, there will be alternative legislation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
To help develop this article, click 'Edit this article' above.
Contents |
[edit] Primary Legislation (Acts or Orders)
- Agricultural Land (Removal of Surface Soil and Dirt) Act.
- Building Act February 1984
- Clean Air Act.
- Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.
- Climate Change Act.
- Draft environment (principles and governance) bill. 2018
- Energy Act.
- Environment Act.
- Environment Bill 2020.
- Environmental Protection Act.
- Flood and Water Management Act.
- Localism Act.
- Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act.
- Protection of Badgers Act.
- Water Act.
- Water Resources Act.
- Wildlife and Countryside Act.
[edit] Secondary Legislation (Regulations)
- Building Regulations.
- Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations.
- Contaminated Land (England) Regulations.
- Control of Asbestos Regulations.
- Control of Noise (Codes of Practice for Construction and Open Sites) (England) Order.
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
- Controlled Waste Regulations Energy Efficiency (Refrigerators and Freezers) Regulations.
- Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations.
- Energy Related Products Regulations.
- Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations.
- Environmental Protection (Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances) Regulations.
- Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Regulations.
- Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations.
- Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations.
- Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations.
- Site Waste Management Plan Regulations.
- Town and Country Planning (environmental impact assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations.
- Waste (England and Wales) Regulations.
- Waste Management Licensing Regulations.
- Waste Management (England and Wales) Regulations.
- Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations.
[edit] Policy
NB this list is not comprehensive and requires further work.
- CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
- National Planning Policy Framework.
- Zero carbon homes.
- Zero carbon non-domestic buildings.
- National Waste Management Plan for England.
- Green deal.
- Renewable Heat Incentive.
- Feed-In Tariff scheme (FIT).
- Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT).
- Environment offences: Definitive guideline.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BREEAM.
- Code for Sustainable Homes.
- CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme.
- Clean Air Act.
- Emission rates.
- Energy Performance Certificates.
- Energy Related Products Regulations.
- Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme ESOS.
- Energy targets.
- Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Environmental regulators.
- Environment offences: Definitive guideline.
- Flood and Water Management Act.
- Green corridor.
- Green deal.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
- Localism Act.
- National Planning Policy Framework.
- Statutory authorities.
- Statutory obligations.
- Sustainability.
- Sustainable development toolkit.
- Sustainable materials.
- Zero carbon homes.
- Zero carbon non-domestic buildings.
[edit] External references
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