What construction law changes will there be across the EU and UK in 2024?

The new legislation is said to reshape the way construction operates and potentially has a far-reaching impact on regulations, standards, and industry dynamics.

From sustainability mandates to new compliance measures, Red Sky says that these pivotal legal shifts will redefine the face of construction in these key global regions throughout the year ahead.

Now, construction ERP software experts have outlined the legal developments that may be in store for 2024 to help the industry prepare for what lies ahead.

UK construction law changes

The UK construction industry has experienced a few testing years, and 2024 could be no different with continued economic challenges and regulatory reform on the way. The legal developments in store for 2024 include:

Building Safety Act: The transitional period for a new building control regime for higher-risk buildings (HRBs) set out in the Building Safety Act 2022 is due to end on 6th April, 2024 in England and Wales.

It applies to buildings at least 18m high or with at least seven storeys and contain a minimum of two residential units, hospitals or care homes. After this date, HRB projects will be under greater scrutiny and must secure building control approval from the Building Safety Regulator before construction work can commence.

Second Staircases: The government is set to provide an update on proposals for a second staircase in all new residential dwellings in England over 18m in height. The changes are set out in the Building Safety Act Approved Document B and will be followed by a 30-month transitional phase for developers.

Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 Report: The long-awaited final report into what caused the fire that killed 72 residents at London’s 24-storey Grenfell Tower in 2017 looks set to be published in 2024. The report is expected to make a number of important recommendations for the housing sector aimed at making residential tower blocks safer in the event of a fire.

Construction Product Testing Regime: Further updates, guidance, and possibly legislation are expected in 2024 following the publication of the Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime in 2023. It is likely to cause a major shake-up in the regulatory system for testing the safety of construction products.

Registered Building Inspectors (RBI) Applications: Applications to become RBIs will end in April 2024. After that date, multi-disciplinary teams will assist the Building Safety Regulator in carrying out building control processes in the future. The changes will mean the BSR has final sign-off on building plans for HRBs and also at completion.

Biodiversity Net Gain: New sustainability-focussed regulations forcing developers, land managers, and local planning authorities to improve the biodiversity of a site by 10% will be introduced in 2024.

EU construction law changes

There will be a significant shift towards greater sustainability throughout Europe’s construction industry in 2024. Driven by a plethora of EU legislation, mostly involving carbon reduction, the changes aim to steer construction towards more environmentally friendly building solutions with a lower carbon footprint. The changes include:

Carbon Market Reforms: The EU hopes that increasing the cost of CO2 emissions will provide construction firms with greater incentives to adopt low-carbon methods in their building processes.

Renewable Energy Focus: The use of fuels in construction will come under increasing scrutiny in 2024. The EU will invest time and money in promoting the value of renewable energy and eco-friendly building materials to make the industry ‘greener’ than ever before.