Planning FAQs
Part L ‘Conserving Fuel and Power’ Building Regulation 2021
What is the Part L ‘Conserving Fuel and Power’ Building Regulation 2021?
A new Part L ‘Conserving Fuel and Power’ Building Regulation 2021 came into force on 15 June 2022. It requires better energy performance standards for new buildings by setting higher onsite minimum carbon reductions. What this means in practice, is that by law, new buildings must emit less carbon emissions.
To support the implementation of this change, the Greater London Authority (GLA) has developed new Energy Assessment Guidance, and an updated Carbon Emissions Reporting spreadsheet.
New energy modelling software is required to calculate the carbon emissions generated by a new building, and the impact on carbon reduction of the measures that are implemented onsite for the new Part L 2021 Regulations. The use of this software has now been finalised by the GLA.
How does this update to Part L Building Regulation 2021 affect my planning application?
A1: All live planning applications
In line with the GLA, applicants should now use the Part L Building Regulations 2021 for Energy Assessments to ensure compliance with Policy P70 and GLA Energy Assessment Guidance 2022.
Unless your planning application is due to be determined by 31 December 2022, applicants with live planning applications must now:
- Submit amendments to the design of the proposed development to ensure that it complies with the updated regulations and policy.
- Submit an updated Energy Assessment that presents the energy performance information against Part L Building Regulations 2021. It would also be helpful to include the original 2013 figures in line with GLA Guidance.
- Submit an updated GLA Carbon Emission Monitoring Spreadsheet 2022 as an appendix to the updated Energy Assessment.
In terms of compliance with Part L Building Regulation 2021, major planning applications must deliver a 100% onsite reduction against Part L Building Regulation 2021 for residential development and 40% onsite reduction against Part L Building Regulation 2021 for non-residential development.
A2: All planning applications submitted from 1 January 2023
All new planning applications submitted from 1 January 2023 must comply with Part L Building Regulation 2021 as set out in Policy 70, and GLA Energy Assessment Guidance 2022.
- All Energy Statements must now present the Energy Assessment with carbon reduction onsite against Part L Building Regulations 2013 and 2021.
- Planning application should also submit an updated GLA Carbon Emission Monitoring Spreadsheet 2022 (external download) as an appendix to the Energy Assessment.
In terms of compliance with Part L Building Regulations 2021, major planning applications will still need to provide a 100% onsite reduction against Part L Building Regulation 2021 for residential development and 40% onsite reduction against Part L Building Regulation 2021 for non-residential development.
Which planning applications are eligible for transitional arrangements?
The only planning applications that are eligible for transitional arrangements are those that were registered with Southwark’s Building Control Team or an Approved Independent Building Inspector prior to 15 June 2022. These planning applications must demonstrate that the planning application was registered before this date, as set out in our current Validation Checklist.
Are there further details about these changes?
You can read the full details of the 2021 Part L Building Regulations.
There have been updates to other parts of the Building Regulations too. This includes Part F (Ventilation) and Part O (Overheating). Read more about all the changes to the Building Regulations.
Page last updated: 18 July 2024
