Building Standards Futures Board minutes: June 2026

Attendees and apologies

• Ken Gourlay (KG) Chair, Chief Executive, Fife Council
• Lee Thom (LT), LABSS
• Zoe Black (ZB), RIAS
• Mark Lawler (ML), SER, Certification Scheme Providers
• David Raine (DR), Homes for Scotland
• Mike King (MK), Robertson Group
• Stephen Garvin (SGa), Scottish Government
• Colette Templeton (CT), Scottish Government
• Fiona Sinclair (FS), Scottish Government
• Frank Doherty (FD), Scottish Government
• Andrew Gayler (AG), Scottish Government
• Alan Rodden (AR), Scottish Government
• Danny Henderson (DH), Scottish Government

Apologies

• Robert Nicol (RN), COSLA
• Gordon Nelson (GN), FMB
• Laura Shanks (LS), LABSS
• Gavin Johnston (GJ), BE-ST
• Robert Toomey (RT), RICS
• Jocelyne Fleming (JF), CIOB
• John-Paul Breslin (JPB), LABSS
• Colin Proctor (CP), Scottish Futures Trust (SFT)
• Robert Storey (RS), SER
• Cameron Murdoch (CM), Scottish Government 

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and noted apologies. Introductions were made for new Board members.

The purpose of the meeting today is to provide a progress update on each of the workstreams, including next steps and a forward look. An update will also be provided on a number of ongoing research projects.

In addition, information on wider BSD activity relating to the professional competency of verifiers and the forthcoming verifier audit programme will be provided.

Meeting business

Note of meeting 23 – 3 December 2025

The note of the previous meeting was approved by the Board.

Action Points – Paper 118 (29/06/2026)

An update was provided.

Action 2 was highlighted to the Board informing members that RICS have been involved in various engagements in regard to availability of surveyor training/education courses. A meeting between RT and SGa is being arranged to look at this further.   

Action: BSD to arrange a discussion between SGa and RT regarding availability of surveyor training/education courses. This was arranged after the meeting.

Collaborative working

SGa provided an update.

Building standards

A Scottish Government election took place in May 2026 resulting in a new Cabinet, with Shirley-Ann Sommerville now the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing. SG recently met with the Cab Sec and a series of briefings on the work of the Division are being prepared. A new Directorate has also been created, BSD now sits within the Building Safety and Standards Directorate, alongside the Cladding and Remediation Divisions. This doesn’t change the work of either BSD or the Futures Board.

In 2024, BSD undertook the Energy and Environmental Standards: Stage 1 consultation to inform the development of principles for a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard. The Stage 2 consultation has now been approved by the Cabinet Secretary and is expected to launch July 2026.

The Scottish Government has also confirmed a 100 day commitment to progress work on the Scottish Accessible Homes Standards (SAHS) across all housing types. A review will be required with an update of associated housing guidance as a result. This work will progress over the next few years.

Grenfell response

An update on the SG response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry was published in May 2026, it can be found here. Further progress updates will be published throughout the year.

The Scottish Building Regulations - Fire Safety Review and Compliance: Call for Evidence, ran between January – April 2026. The findings of this consultation are expected to be available by the end of summer 2026.

A Technical Research Framework is also being put in place for Building Standards Technical projects to streamline current processes, increase efficiency and encourage greater participation from larger contractors to submit tenders.

Licensing of Contractors Scheme

CT provided an update.

Progress was noted on the UK Government consideration of a licensing scheme for principal contractors, as recommended by the Grenfell Phase 2 Report. Several aspects of the proposed approach, particularly the emphasis on senior-level accountability, align with existing Scottish building standards practices and ongoing Futures Board work on compliance plan and certification workstreams.

MHCLG is developing proposals for contractor licensing in the higher-risk building sector, alongside a review of the dutyholder regime and wider engagement on built environment professions. The direction of travel is towards increased accountability, competence, regulatory oversight and assurance, with licensing expected to form a key part of a more safety-focused construction regulatory framework.

FMB update

CT provided an update.

New research undertaken by FMB highlighted the economic impact of poor consumer confidence as one in five households are put off from hiring builders, costing the economy £11.2 billion a year. Recent engagement with UK Parliament MPs also highlighted that a total 14.3bn has been spent over 5 years, rectifying poor-quality or fraudulent building work undertaken by ‘cowboy builders’.

FMB supports UK Government proposals to strengthen consumer protection in the home upgrades and retrofit sector, including the introduction of mandatory registration and licensing for trades.

The Domestic Building Works (Consumer Protection) Bill, has been introduced to the UK Parliament, while FMB continues to explore how a contractor licensing scheme could operate in Scotland alongside the Compliance Plan Approach.

FMB's ongoing 'Licence to Build' campaign has gained political and industry support, with a key manifesto ask for the Scottish and UK Governments to work together to implement a licensing scheme for firms operating in the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector.

Building Standards: practice unit

AR provided an update.

Competency assessment for the Building Standards Profession

As part of the Workforce Strategy for the Building Standards Verification Service (published October 2020), the Professional Competency Framework (PCF) and Competency Assessment System (CAS) were introduced in 2021. Developed by Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS) in collaboration with SG and wider building standards profession, the framework established Scotland's first nationally consistent approach to assessing professional competence, while supporting the  identification of skills gaps and training needs.

In response to the Grenfell Tower Phase 2 Report, further work to strengthen the model was undertaken resulting in an evolved Workforce Strategy model being rolled out in October 2025. This has a stronger focus on strengthening service resilience, increasing resources, and professional assurance. Key developments have included the implementation of a new peer review competency assessment process.

To date, there are 481 competency assessments required across the profession, with the aim to complete these by end of March 2027. It is expected however, that there will be some case exemptions e.g. those on long term sick leave and maternity leave etc.

A formal review of the interim process will be carried out in autumn 2026. This will evaluate the effectiveness of the process and determine whether an independent third party provider should be appointed to manage and deliver competency assessment and validation in Scotland. BSD intend to issue the invitation to tender in September with the aim of the review being carried out between October 2026 – January 2027.

Auditing of verifiers

The Building Standards Verification Audit Programme is being reintroduced following the suspension of the previous programme during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RSM UK Consulting has been appointed to deliver a full programme of 32 audits, commencing in Q3 2026, with completion scheduled by summer 2028. The audits will assess how verifier performance against the requirements of the Operating Framework, while also identifying strengths in service delivery and opportunities for improvement. Any examples of good practice identified through the audits will be shared nationally to support continuous improvement across the verification service.

Individual engagement with verifiers is currently underway to ensure that all relevant  information and supporting data are available in advance of the audits. The first six months of the audit schedule has been agreed, with audits being delivered in phased tranches.

It is acknowledged that delivering all 32 audits by summer 2028 will be challenging; however, the programme is expected to provide valuable opportunities for assurance, performance improvement and enhanced engagement between BSD and verifiers.

The Chair asked whether the FB could provide any support in relation to verifier audit programme. It was noted that timelines are progressing as planned and that LABSS has been very supportive, particularly in relation to communications and stakeholder engagement.

LT echoed these comments and agreed that the communications strategy has been beneficial to verifiers. It was also noted that BSD's proactive engagement with verifiers throughout the development and implementation of the programme, has been viewed as positive.

The Board noted the progress being made in strengthening professional competency assessment arrangements and supported the planned review of future delivery models.

The Board noted progress towards the reintroduction of the Verification Audit Programme and welcomed the collaborative approach being taken with verifiers and LABSS.

Certification workstream

AG provided an update.

Workstream update

A fundamental review of certification has taken place. Work to increase promotion of certification is underway. BSD will continue to support organisations interested in developing and delivering new certification schemes.

Providers interested in expanding their certification services should contact BSD.

The Certification Strategy has been updated and was presented to the most recent Certification Working Group.

As part of wider discussions on increasing certification uptake, work will be undertaken to consider an “opt-out” fee model. Under this approach, certification would become the default expectation, with an additional fee payable where a certificate is not submitted. Further work is required to assess the potential benefits, impacts and implementation considerations of this.

Audit of Certification Scheme Providers

RSM UK Ltd was commissioned to deliver an audit programme for the Certification Scheme Providers and local authority verifiers. For certification, the audit activity commenced in January 2026 and has now been completed. Four of the audited certification schemes received positive audit outcomes, with opportunities for improvement identified within the remaining two schemes. BSD will continue to work with the relevant scheme providers to support implementation of improvement actions.

A further programme of audits is scheduled to take place during the 2027/28 financial year to provide ongoing assurance and support continuous improvement across the certification landscape.

Review of the Operating Framework

A review of the Certification Scheme Provider Operating Framework has been carried out. Changes will be introduced in two phases:

1. Introduction of a more proportionate, risk based assurance approach
2. Development of scheme-specific elements within the framework to better support delivery and address scheme-specific improvement priorities

These changes are intended to strengthen oversight arrangements while ensuring the framework remains proportionate and responsive to differing scheme requirements.

Reappointment of Certification scheme providers

The scheme provider reappointment process is currently underway. Letters inviting applications for reappointment have been issued, with a deadline of 23 July for submissions to be made. Reminder emails will be issued to scheme providers to reinforce that BSD is available to provide guidance and support throughout this period.

BRE Global Ltd have notified BSD that they do not intend to seek reappointment as a scheme provider. Existing BRE membership will continue to have access to certification by joining the RIAS scheme.

Certification Register

The existing certification register was developed in 2005 and now needs to be replaced. The current register will be migrated to a cloud based platform in late summer 2026.

BSD are working with Ember Technology to define requirements for a replacement register and provide a timeline for development and delivery including cost and time. To inform the redesign a public-facing survey, has been launched on the register’s homepage, to gather user feedback and identify priorities for future development.  Supporting blog articles have been published to support this. Members were asked to share the survey with stakeholders where appropriate.

Action: members to share the Certification Register redesign survey with any appropriate stakeholders.

The Board noted progress across the certification workstream, including the ongoing consideration of measures to increase certification uptake, the completion of scheme provider audits, and development of proposals for a new Certification Register. The Board welcomed continued engagement with stakeholders and certification scheme providers.

Delivery model workstream

CT provided an update.

Workstream update – Paper 119 (29/06/2026)

The workstream is progressing from an implementation phase to an evaluation phase with a focus on future planning.

Building Warrant Fees and Future Hub Funding

In April 2026 building warrant fees increased for the final year of the three-year model. There are no plans to increase fees in 2027. BSD will take forward a review of how additional income has been reinvested into the verification service, and what the impact has been on capacity, workforce resilience and performance.

Stakeholder engagement continues. The next meeting of the Delivery Model Working Group is expected to take place late summer 2026.

Membership of the Scottish Building Standards Hub Operational Support Group has been expanded to strengthen engagement and collaboration between BSD, LABSS and the Hub.

Research was undertaken by Optimal Economics to look at the future year budget for the Hub. Proposed funding levels have been identified to support ongoing service delivery and future requirements. This includes the requirement for an additional Lead Technical Surveyor post, an assumed annual 4% uplift in operating costs to reflect pay and inflationary pressures, and a contingency provision from 2027/28 to manage any potential overspend or unforeseen costs across the four-year period.

The Board was informed of the proposed funding levels, which remain confidential pending agreement by COSLA and approval by the Cabinet Secretary. Funding has been agreed on the understanding that the Hub’s team structure will be reviewed in future years, particularly in response to staff turnover. Any proposed changes to the team structure must be discussed with and approved by the SBSH Advisory Board. It was added that funding will also be influenced by service demand, economic conditions and the ministerial approval process.

There was a discussion around building warrant fees and future funding levels, DR asked whether information on this activity is being shared with planning teams and the Cabinet Secretary to raise awareness of wider system impacts, including effects on housing starts and completions. SGa explained that while this information is not routinely provided, data is collected from local authorities on a range of measures and reported to Ministers as part of wider building standards monitoring. It was advised that data has shown fluctuations over recent years and is becoming increasingly important in the context of the housing emergency.

The importance of maintaining sustainable income streams was emphasised. The Board were reminded that following a downturn in building warrant applications for some verifiers, the fee increases over the past three years have helped to maintain their income levels and teams. As building warrant applications increase, the additional income generated from the fee increase needs to be used to support growth and enable local authorities to invest further in workforce building capacity and supporting development. It is acknowledged that with a fluctuating market future income remains difficult to predict.

Action: DR and SGa to meet to discuss impact of building warrant fees on planning.

In relation to verifier capacity, the annual Resource and Investment Exercise continues to provide valuable insight into workforce pressures across the service. Members were  advised that the 2026 exercise will be more targeted to each individual authority, focusing on the specific workforce pressures, challenges and service improvements.

This approach is intended to provide a more detailed understanding of local capacity issues and inform future support and investment decisions.

Research

2026 research focuses on two key areas:

• Research 1 – KPO 5 review, aimed at improving financial data quality, consistency, and transparency around income reinvestment
• Research 2 – High-risk building fees, aimed at the exploration of new or discretionary charging models

The aim of both projects is to provide a stronger evidence base to support future decision-making.

The Board noted progress in transitioning the workstream from implementation to evaluation, the ongoing work to review the impact of building warrant fee increases and future Hub funding requirements. The importance of developing a robust evidence base to support future decisions on verifier capacity, funding and service delivery was recognised.

Compliance Plan Workstream

FD provided an update.

Delivering the Compliance Plan Approach (CPA) – Paper 120 (29/06/2026)

Four key items were identified under the CPA for  delivery as a result of the Scottish Government’s response to Grenfell Tower Inquiry:

• review existing and proposed statements relating to design compliance
• develop guidance for Local Authority Verifiers on implementing the principles of the CPA
• produce guidance to support the voluntary adoption of the CPA for High-Risk Buildings
• reconsider and refine the definition of High-Risk Buildings

Members were advised that all four have now been completed and are progressing to the next stage of implementation.

BSD continues to support change management and stakeholder activity through recent engagement with verifiers via BE-ST industry launch events. BSD have issued the first of a quarterly survey to verifiers in order to capture the use and effectiveness of the CPA guidance published earlier in 2026.

Update sessions have been offered to verifiers, LABSS and industry to improve the awareness and understanding of the CPA. Members were invited to share any suggestions on how future engagement sessions could be delivered more effectively.

Action: BSD to contact Board members requesting suggestions on how future CPA engagement and update sessions can be delivered.

The Compliance Plan Working Group highlighted the requirement for a communications and media pack to support wider promotion and understanding of the CPA.  Developed of this resource  is being considered and will be taken forward through BE-ST.

CPA Next steps

BSD will work with SFT to undertake a formal review of the CPA after 6 months of implementation. The review will gather positive areas and consider any opportunities for improvements. The Chair asked where the formal review of CPA guidance will be reported. It was advised that the outcomes are likely to be reported to the CPWG, FB and potentially the Ministerial Working Group.

BSD are continuing the process to prepare for potential legislative change. This includes reviewing and undertaking impact assessments.

Early Adopters Update – Paper 121 (29/07/2026)

Four early Adopter projects were undertaken. Two of these have now been complete with the other two still ongoing.

The Early Adopters Scheme has received positive feedback, with verifiers reporting that the CPA improves communication and confidence in the compliance process. However, it has also highlighted some misunderstandings of existing roles and responsibilities and expectations across the construction process which have identified the  need for further communication and engagement to strengthen the system.

Early Adopter Scheme Next Steps

Further action will be undertaken in response to feedback. SFT will continue to work with BSD to support ongoing stakeholder engagement activities.

MK and FD discussed training and awareness raising opportunities. Discussions at last weeks’ CQIC event suggested the potential for a role for the learning modules developed through the SBSH to be made available to industry.

SGa noted strong engagement at the CQIC event and welcomed suggestions on further opportunities to promote and support adoption of the CPA.

The Board noted the completion of the initial CPA deliverables and welcomed progress in supporting implementation through guidance, engagement and the Early Adopters programme. Members recognised the importance of continued communication, training and evaluation activities in supporting wider adoption of the Compliance Plan Approach and informing future legislative considerations.

Digital Workstream

FD provided an update.

BSD continues to support the development and enhancement of the free online eBuilding Standards calculator. The calculator is updated each time fee levels change.

The replacement of the eDevelopment system for Planning and Building Standards continues to progress through a phased delivery programme:

• Phase 1 – delivery of replacement service
• Phase 2 – transformation to a ‘digital’ service (making better use of data within the system)
• Phase 3 – challenging aspects of the digital service e.g. interactive guidance
• Phase 4 – this is further in the completion timeline as is in relation to updating/replacing back-office systems used to manage applications

Verifier Time Recording

BSD continues to support verifiers in implementing time recording, with a focus on increasing the collection of compliance activity data. The Board were informed that the Hub is working with IDOX to develop a reporting tool that will improve the collection, analysis and reporting of time recording data. The tool is expected to provide a more robust evidence base to support future resource planning, performance monitoring and service improvements.

Members were advised that the national Building Standards mobile application has now been launched and is available via Apple Store and Google Play Store. The app is intended to improve accessibility to building standards information and services. Members were encouraged to promote the application through their respective networks and stakeholder groups.

Action: Members to encourage stakeholders to download and use the national Building Standards app.

ZB asked whether future digital updates would take account of the categorisation of High-Risk Buildings. Members were advised that current guidance requires descriptions of works to be recorded consistently within local authority back-office systems. Consistent use of this approach will enable relevant data to be extracted through the Improvement Service. Arrangements are already in place to support this. This is unlikely  to be extended to other building types until any legislative changes have been completed.

The Board noted progress in the digital transformation programme, including ongoing development of replacement eBuilding Standards services, enhancements to data collection and reporting capabilities, and the launch of the national Building Standards mobile app.

Futures Board Risk Reporting

Risk Register – Paper 122 (29/06/2026)

CT presented Paper 122 and provided an update on the current Risk Register, including changes to risk scores.

The Board was content that  the identified risks, associated mitigations and current scores reflected the programme’s position. No changes to risk scores were proposed.

AOCB

Date of next meeting:

• Tuesday 10 November 2026 (10:30 – 12:30)

This will be an in-person meeting, in Denholm House, Livingston. Further details will be shared nearer the time.

Actions

1. BSD to arrange a discussion between SGa and RT regarding availability of surveyor training/education courses. This was arranged after the meeting.
2. Members to share the Certification Register redesign survey with any appropriate stakeholders.
3. DR and SGa to meet to discuss the impact of building warrant fees on planning.
4. BSD to contact Board members requesting suggestions on how future CPA engagement and update sessions can be delivered.
5. Members to encourage stakeholders to download and use the national Building Standards app.