Last edited 30 Oct 2019

Queen's Speech 2019

1 Introduction
2 Building safety
3 National infrastructure strategy
4 Environment Bill
5 Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

[edit] Introduction

On 14 October 2019, Her Majesty the Queen gave her speech to Parliament. The Queen’s Speech is an annual event which sets out the government’s agenda for the coming session, and outlines proposed policies and legislation.

There were a number of inclusions relevant to the built environment:

[edit] Building safety

The introduction of new laws in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire to prioritise the safety of residents, particularly in high-rise properties. These will apply to England only but new rules on construction products will apply nationally.

The recommendations of the Hackitt Review will be taken forward:

Providing clearer accountability throughout a building’s design, construction and occupation.
Creating a stronger framework for national oversight of construction products to achieve higher standards.
Ensuring those with a duty relating to the safety of new developments will be held to account if they fail to comply with requirements.
Establishing a new system overseeing the whole built environment to ensure improved building safety, with local enforcement agencies and regulators working together.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “We must never see a tragic incident like the fire at Grenfell Tower happen again. That is why we are introducing the biggest reforms to the building safety regime in nearly 40 years. The current system will be overhauled and a new regulator with powers to enforce criminal sanctions will be at the heart of protecting residents. This new legislation will also give residents a stronger voice to ensure that their safety is the top priority of every building owner and developer.”

[edit] National infrastructure strategy

The government plans to publish a new National Infrastructure Strategy, setting out a vision for improving digital, transport and energy infrastructure. The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill will establish a long-term approach to improve the nation’s digital, transport and energy infrastructure, including fast, reliable and secure broadband networks.

[edit] Environment Bill

The Environment Bill (referred to in the Queen’s speech and introduced on 15 October 2019) is intended to place the environment at the heart of government and includes:

Achieving net-zero carbon by 2050.
Targets on biodiversity, air quality, water and resource/waste efficiency.
Improving sustainable water management.
Restoring wildlife habitats.
Tackling plastic pollution.

The Environment Bill as a whole only applies to England but more than half of it is designed to apply across the UK through the devolved administrations.

New legally-binding environmental improvement targets will also be introduced.

Environmental policy and legislation are to be scrutinised by an independent regulator (the Office for Environmental Protection) which will also investigate complaints and take enforcement action.