Building regulations - proposed changes to energy and environmental standards: stage 2 consultation and BRIA

Ministerial foreword

Scotland is firmly committed to meeting its statutory net zero targets and ensuring that the transition to a low‑carbon future is fair and delivers real benefits for people and communities. The quality and performance of our buildings are central to this ambition. Energy‑efficient, well‑designed buildings reduce emissions, lower energy bills and support healthier indoor environments; benefits that must be accessible to everyone. They also play a direct role in reducing household costs for families on low incomes, supporting our national mission to tackle child poverty.

High‑performance standards such as Passivhaus already demonstrate these benefits in practice. They improve energy efficiency, enhance indoor air quality and strengthen construction quality through robust assurance processes. These features help close the performance gap, support compliance and contribute to safer buildings, reinforcing wider work on building safety and resilience across Scotland.

Recognising these advantages, the Scottish Government committed to developing a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, ensuring that new buildings are equipped to meet the demands of a changing climate while supporting household wellbeing.

Our Stage 1 consultation showed broad support for a standard that is ambitious, achievable and deliverable. This Stage 2 consultation presents more detailed proposals on how such a standard could be embedded within building regulations and guidance. It sets out the technical requirements, performance metrics and compliance processes necessary to deliver a consistent, outcomes‑focused, approach across all new buildings.

In the context of the urgent need to accelerate housing delivery, I recognise that any new regulatory requirements must be practical and achievable. Local authorities, housing associations and developers must be able to deliver high‑quality, energy‑efficient homes at pace. Our intent is to introduce a standard that strikes the right balance between improved performance and deliverability, and we will continue to work closely with industry, local authorities, professional bodies and the public to achieve this within a pragmatic delivery timeline.

I encourage all interested parties to consider these proposals and share their views. Together, we can ensure that Scotland continues to lead in creating buildings that are energy efficient, climate resilient, safe and capable of delivering lasting benefits for the people who use them.

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing