Improving the building stock
We're committed to ensuring Scotland's built environment is well-suited to tackle any future challenges related to the changing climate.
Adapting to climate change
Scotland's climate is changing and will continue to change in the future. This will present a wide range of risks to the built environment. Along with other parts of the government we contribute to planning and preparing for change now, with the aim of improving the resilience of buildings. Part 2 of our Climate Change adaptation programme provides more information.
A low carbon building standards strategy for Scotland (The Sullivan Report)
In 2007 Ministers convened an expert panel to create 'A low-carbon building standards strategy for Scotland (The Sullivan Report)'. This set out recommendations to drive forward standards and innovation. They included the delivery of very low-carbon buildings through building regulations, in support of climate change objectives. It provided an overall route map towards 'net zero carbon' new buildings and was a key part of subsequent reviews of energy standards in 2010 and 2015.
In May 2013, ministers asked the panel to revisit some of the original recommendations. Their findings are published in the report 'A low carbon building standards strategy for Scotland – 2013 update'.
Sustainability labelling
A sustainability label must be provided for any building where section 7 of the technical handbooks apply. We produce handbooks for domestic buildings and handbooks for non-domestic buildings. These explain which sizes and types of buildings section 7 applies to.
You can create the appropriate label for your property using our Sustainability Label Generator.
Defective and dangerous buildings
Local authorities are responsible for dealing with buildings they consider to be defective or dangerous. We publish guidance in the Building Standards procedural handbook.
They can serve notice on the building owner requiring work to be done. They can undertake the work themselves if the notice is not complied with and can recover their costs from the owner. They can also take emergency action on dangerous buildings.