APS Weekly Update – (W/C 13 April)
APS has increased its sector-wide engagement to better support members in developing and maintaining professional competence. Each week, we’ll share an update from APS HQ so you can see the breadth of work being carried out for your benefit.
What’s been happening?
CIC Governance Task & Finish Group
This group is developing standards for best practice in Governance for Professional Bodies (PB). The intention is to set standards that will show that the PB exists for public benefit, not a member conduct defence mechanism. A key element will be a robust member Code of Conduct. Governance should be transparent and open, and demonstrate ethical leadership and integrity. Suitably qualified (non-member) representation at board and certain committees should be engaged. The work is proceeding at pace to address issues raised by the post Grenfell 2 report and subsequent considerations on industry competence and regulation of the professions.
Dame Judith Hackitt meeting and regulation of professions
Andrew Leslie (CEO) and Sofie Hooper (DCEO) met with Honorary Fellow Dame Judith Hackitt in London on 7th April to discuss developments on the regulation of professions. Dame Judith is closely involved with this policy agenda through her engagement on the Single Construction Regulator Advisory Board. Aside from discussing the policy agenda and how APS is seeking to drive up standards, the APS’s Annual Conference was also discussed, at which Dame Judith will give the keynote speech. You can find out more about the Conference and register your interest here.
In addition to the discussions with Dame Judith on the regulation of professions, APS recently submitted its response to the Single Construction Regulator Prospectus consultation and is now working with other bodies in CIC towards a ‘Charter of Standards’ of what should be expected of professional bodies as part of the professional oversight mechanism Government is developing. A series of meetings within dedicated working groups are taking place on both competence and governance towards a proposal for Government of how a meaningful oversight mechanism could work. Sofie Hooper, APS, DCEO participated in the competence working group last week Thursday (09/04). This work when finalised, will feed into the forthcoming Government consultation on the regulation of professions, expected late spring.
CIC Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Committee
APS attended the quarterly meeting. It was a useful update on the work BE Inclusive are doing, with shared learning around inclusive approaches, supporting people back into work after time away, and the importance of EDI being embedded across everything to create welcoming and inclusive workplaces in the sector.
APS also last week, submitted a response to the Scottish call for evidence on Fire and the Compliance Plan Approach. Our feedback on the Compliance Plan Approach built on our recent feedback to the Building Standards Division, who had invited us to feedback on draft guidance on the Compliance Plan Approach due to be issued.
Recent updates members should know about
BSR (England) published Strategic plan 2026 to 2027
Before Easter, the Building Safety Regulator published their Strategic plan 2026-2027. It is a one-year plan, that also includes an overview of their performance 2023-2026 and provides details of what the priority work will be for the next year, from 1st April 2026 until 31st March 2027.
Their key priorities are:
Priority 1: Continuing to improve their operations and processes
Priority 2: Cladding remediation projects - applications for building control in HRBs
Priority 3: Building phase and gateway 3 – BSR keeping track of any changes during construction to ensure that Gateway 3 applications accurately represent the building as built.
Priority 4: Keeping the safety of people and the standard of buildings under review
Priority 5: Improving professional standards across industry
In 2027, the BSR commits to setting out their vision for the future and publishing a 3-year strategy. More information about strategic plan and how they are preparing for the future can be found here.
Building Safety Regulator (England) updates criteria information for Gateway 2 applications
The Building Safety Regulator in England, recently published updated information which clarifies the criteria they use to validate, approve or reject Building Control applications for Higher-risk buildings.
It emphasises that submitting detailed documentation is a strict legal requirement.
The webpage details the Approval with Requirements (AwR) process, allowing BSR to approve designs that demonstrate "substantive compliance" whilst non-critical details can be submitted later.
It also outlines grounds for rejections, including:
• The application clearly demonstrates there will be material non-compliance
• The application has information gaps that mean BSR cannot determine if there will be material non-compliance
• Failure to respond to requests for information or resolve the issues raised.
Finally, it clarifies BSR’s approach to ‘attached structures’ during the design and construction phase. Please find the updated page here.
Welsh Government publishes Approved Document L (2026) Volumes 1 and 2, and Approved Document F, Ventilation, Volume 1
The Welsh Government published a circular on 7 April to announce the publication of a new Approved Document L 2026 (Conservation of fuel and power and the minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions) Volumes 1 and 2, and Approved Document F, Ventilation, Volume 1.
The Approved Documents apply only to buildings and building work in Wales (England published their publications a few weeks ago). The circular also outlines the transitional arrangements:
The new approved documents do not apply where building work on an individual building is to be regarded as commenced before 4 March 2027 in accordance with any relevant notification provision, or a relevant notification provision has been complied with in relation to proposed building work on an individual building before 4 March 2027 and the building work is to be regarded as commenced before the period ending on 3 March 2028.
In some cases, applications will be in respect of a number of buildings on a site, for example a number of houses. In such cases, it is only those individual buildings for which work is commenced which can take advantage of the transitional provisions.
Recent Building Standards publications in Scotland
The Scottish Government recently published two building standards handbooks and an outline approach to building warrant application verification for those involved in cladding remediation.
The Building standards: enforcement handbook: first edition (version 1.1) provides clarification on the enforcement powers for local authorities as set out in the Building (Scotland) Act 2003. This handbook is primarily for local authorities (LAs) who have responsibility for taking formal enforcement action.
It may also be of interest to building owners who are undertaking construction work. However, the information around enforcement powers contained within the Procedural Handbook may be more helpful for some readers.
The guidance provides more detailed information than the Procedural Handbook [1] and aims to build knowledge and understanding of the procedures that a local authority may follow when taking action.
The Building standards: procedural handbook: third edition (version 1.9) provides clarification on the procedures underpinning the Scottish building standards system as set out in the Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to assist with practical operation.
The purpose of the handbook is to clarify the intent of the procedure regulations and expand on the procedures set up by the Act. Unlike the Technical Handbooks and most other guidance documents issued by Scottish Ministers to support the building regulations, this procedural handbook has no specific legal status, but as mentioned above, is designed to aid the practical operation of the procedures.
Lastly, the Scottish Government also published a factsheet to provide support and guidance to those involved in cladding remediation works. The Outline approach to the verification of cladding remediation building warrant applications, should be read together with Local Authority Building Standards Scotland Information Paper 43, Guidance on the verification of cladding remediation building warrant applications. This factsheet is only general guidance and applicants and verifiers should determine the particular circumstances of any building with the building standards.
A consultation has been launched on The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).
HSE has launched a consultation on The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), which seeks stakeholder views on a range of legislative and non-legislative proposals to help reduce work-related ill health, one of HSE’s key strategic objectives. It also looks for options to reduce the burden on businesses, in making these reports to the regulator, through simplification of the reporting process.
The full consultation document and supporting documentation is available at: Consultation on proposals for The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.
The consultation runs until 30 June 2026. APS invites members who are responding to share their response with us too so we can amplify your voice. Please send your submission to info@aps.org.uk by 25th June, so that we can collate responses.
What’s coming up this week? (13 - 19 April)
Meetings APS is involved in this week include:
• ICSG Principal Designer Working Group
• ITFG Steering Group A pan industry group set up by APS as an independent Working Group to deliver a guidance document on the management of competence in organisations to align with the work of the Industry Competence Committee who are finalising their guidance document “setting Expectations for competence management”
• ICC Setting Expectations Group 2 –guidance for Clients for projects in England
• CIC Professional Competence Taskforce
• PDBR register scheme alignment work with CIAT
We’ll continue to keep members updated on key developments and engagement across the industry as plans for 2026 take shape.
If you would like to contribute or share expertise on issues that matter to you, please contact APS HQ at info@aps.org.uk.