Strategic Environment Assessments are now required (July 2004) on all significant developments and Environmental Impact Statements with planning applications must now reflect such assessments.

EU Directive on Landfill and Disposable, of hazardous and non-hazardous waste (July 2004); all waste leaving property is expected to be pre-sorted. But disposing of waste from brownfield sites, prior to development, becomes a greater challenge for developers.

PPS22 (August 2004) states that all planning policies must establish criteria that can be used to determine renewable energy systems within development proposals.

Autumn 2004 - all suggestions for part L of UK Building Regulations must be received; from 4 January 2006, all buildings must comply with the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings when an Energy Performance Certificate must be displayed on all commercial buildings build, sold or let.

From 1 October this year, all employers and service providers are required to make reasonable adjustments to physical features to enable disabled people to gain access to buildings.

Next April, central government will issue a Government Sustainable Development Strategy influencing all Government occupied property.

EU Waste Electronic & Electronic Directive (August 2005) will require retailers to recycle over six tonnes of waste equipment; reverse flow logistics will become a reality for many retailers, but will they also need appropriate accommodation for returned items?

Breeam (Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method) and EcoHome standards are changing and will become even more demanding as local authorities adopt them as central to their planning permission approval process.

The Climate Change Levy is likely to be increased substantially to enable the UK to meet its EU target of 12 per cent of energy from renewal sources to 2010, but Enhance Capital Allowances will enable businesses to reclaim 100 per cent of all spending on certain plant and machinery, which reduce the level of energy, carbon dioxide emissions and demands on water.

A copy of the report is available free of charge and can be downloaded from the King Sturge website on www.kingsturge.com

Published: 02/11/2004