Morning, Friday, 5th February 2027
Online
This conference will consider next steps for building standards and safety in Scotland in the new Parliamentary term. Planned areas for discussion include fire safety reform, compliance and enforcement, cladding remediation, sustainable building standards, and housing quality and accessibility.
Compliance, verification & accountability
The conference will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to assess priorities for strengthening compliance and enforcement, improving assurance throughout design and construction, and supporting consistent local authority verification. Following the Scottish Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, which accepted all recommendations as they apply in Scotland and committed to new legislation where needed in this Parliament, discussion will examine progress and next steps for turning those commitments into practice.
With phase 1 of the Compliance Plan Approach applying to new-build high-risk buildings and cladding remediation since April 2026, and to all other major works to high-risk buildings from January 2027, delegates will consider early experience of the new arrangements and priorities for the development of a future statutory regime, including where responsibilities and accountability could sit, and the capacity, competence and evidence needed to support construction quality and demonstrate compliance.
Fire safety reform, cladding remediation & the Building Safety Levy
Further discussion will examine the early operation of the Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 and next steps for the review of fire safety standards following the call for evidence on fire safety and compliance, alongside priorities for funding and delivering cladding remediation and preparing for the Scottish Building Safety Levy from April 2028.
Energy efficiency, decarbonisation & sustainable standards
The integration of safety and effective compliance with wider environmental and housing standards will also be examined. Areas for discussion include the development of a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus, including proposals for its introduction in autumn 2029, priorities for forthcoming Heat in Buildings legislation and implementation of the Climate Change Plan, and next steps for minimum energy-efficiency standards in rented housing and EPC reform. Attendees will consider affordability, technical suitability and delivery capacity, as well as how new and proposed standards interact with fire safety, ventilation, damp and overheating, particularly in traditional and tenement properties.
Awaab’s Law, accessible homes & property maintenance
The conference will also assess early implementation of the first phase of Awaab’s Law under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, under the Investigation and Commencement of Repair (Scotland) Regulations 2026, which came into force in October 2026 for social and private landlords. Delegates will consider landlord duties, investigation and repair timescales, inspection and redress, and the future scope of the regime, alongside approaches to identifying hazards earlier and improving information on property condition. Further discussion will examine the development of more accessible and adaptable homes, the relationship between accessibility standards and inclusive fire safety, and approaches to improving the maintenance and repair of existing and tenement properties.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy, funding & remediation:
- implementation of The Scottish Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report - legislative commitments and timescales - coordination with the UK Government on reserved matters
- priorities for building safety and standards in the new Parliamentary term - Programme for Government 2026-31 and the 2027-28 Scottish Budget
- delivery of the Cladding Remediation Programme and the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 - prioritisation, funding and accountability
- design, rates and sufficiency of the Scottish Building Safety Levy - exemptions, administration and preparation for April 2028
- fire safety standards & reform:
- next steps for the Section 2 (Fire) review following the fire safety and compliance call for evidence - the Fire Safety Expert Working Group - priorities for regulatory and systemic reform
- early operation of Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2025 - external wall cladding in hotels and short-stay accommodation - fire suppression in hotel conversions of traditional buildings, and transitional arrangements
- future fire safety guidance - clarity, proportionality, inclusive evacuation and alignment with remediation and wider building standards - proposals for mandatory fire risk assessments in multi-occupancy buildings
- compliance, verification & construction quality:
- implementation of the 2018 Review Panel recommendations through phase 1 of the Compliance Plan Approach - early experience and extension to all major works from January 2027
- development of a future statutory regime - definition of high-risk buildings and priorities for legislation
- proposed Compliance Plan Manager role - responsibilities, competence, independence, evidence requirements and reporting of non-compliance
- local authority verification - consistency, inspection and use of enforcement powers
- construction quality and assurance - certification, digital records, compliance costs and implications for housing delivery
- building standards, approvals & workforce:
- improving warrant, approval and certification processes - fees, consistency, timeliness, specialist assurance, and the role and development of Structural Engineers Registration Scotland
- workforce capacity and specialist skills across local authority building standards, construction, architecture and engineering
- sustainability & energy efficiency:
- energy and environmental standards and a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard - stage 2 consultation outcomes, technical evidence, transition and proposals for implementation in autumn 2029
- development of Heat in Buildings legislation and minimum energy-efficiency standards - EPC reform, financing, implementation and landlord readiness
- retrofit of traditional and tenement properties - affordability, collective decision-making and implications for fire safety, ventilation, damp and overheating
- integration of wider environmental requirements, including biodiversity measures, with building standards and housing delivery
- housing quality, accessibility & maintenance:
- early implementation of Awaab’s Law - landlord duties across social and private renting, investigation and repair timescales for damp and mould, and extension to other housing hazards
- inspection, enforcement and redress - local authority capacity, tenant routes to redress and support for smaller landlords
- accessible and adaptable homes - development of the Scottish Accessible Homes Standard and updated Housing for Varying Needs guidance - inclusive fire safety, viability and implications for housing supply
- improving tenement maintenance - ownership responsibilities, coordination and funding of shared works
- compulsory purchase reform and options for compulsory sale and lease orders for unsafe, empty or deteriorating buildings
