Objectives of the consultation
The aim of the proposed amendment was to embed in the Scottish Building Regulations a requirement for the sustainability labelling of new buildings.
In achieving this, the following objectives were identified:
- To recognise the level of sustainability achieved by the 2010 building regulations (bronze level)
- To allow planning authorities a simple route to achieving their obligations under section 72 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (bronze star level)
- To encourage the adoption of even more demanding sustainability standards with optional higher levels of achievement (silver and gold levels)
- To adopt a sustainability labelling system that can operate within the scope of the building standards system in Scotland
- To encourage consistency between local authorities in supplementary planning guidance on sustainable construction
- To give simple benchmarks that can be referred to when local authorities aspire to developments that meet a higher measure of sustainability
Supporting papers
To download papers that supported this consultation, please follow the links below.
- Sustainability Labelling within Building Standards - Consultation Paper
- Proposed Section 7 Domestic Guidance
- Proposed Section 7 Non-Domestic Guidance
CIBSE response
CIBSE fully supports the introduction of sustainability standards for Scottish buildings. Mandatory sustainability standards have been a feature of domestic buildings in the rest of the UK since 2008 and the creation or adoption of an up-to-date standard in Scotland is therefore long overdue.
While wholeheartedly supporting and applauding the creation of sustainability standards for Scotland, CIBSE disagrees that a bronze award could be made to a project compliant with law and for no additional cost. CIBSE supports the use of a rating system that is publicly displayed on all buildings.
CIBSE recommends that development commits to achieving certain standards of performance at the planning stage and then demonstrates it by an updated assessment at the building warrants stage. CIBSE Members agree that the labelling scheme should be a holistic appraisal of the environmental performance of the dwelling and not be similar to an EPC.
To read the full CIBSE response, please follow the link below.
Results of the consultation and next steps
The Scottish Government report containing responses to points made by stakeholders in the public consultation, was published in February 2011. To read the report, please follow the link below.