Legislative Changes July 2026

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION CHANGES

These Regulations amend the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme Regulations 2014 as amended, to strengthen and improve the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). Changes to strengthen ESOS were made by the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (the 2023 Regulations) and took effect in the third compliance period (i.e. ‘Phase 3’- 06 December 2019 to 5 June 2024). They included measures to increase participants’ accountability by requiring them, in the compliance period following that in which they submitted their notification of compliance (NOC), to disclose and have published an action plan and two progress updates. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations make amendments to the legislation which gives effect to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (the UK ETS). The UK ETS incentivises decarbonisation by requiring operators to purchase allowances based on emissions. The instrument expands the UK ETS to include coverage of CO2, CH4 and NO2 from maritime activities. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations make the necessary regulations under section 30 of the Climate Change Act 2008 (CCA) to formally include international aviation and international shipping (IAIS) emissions in carbon budgets and the net zero target. This instrument extends the scope of emissions captured and reported under the CCA so that the UK share of IAIS emissions will be included within the scope of UK emissions for the sixth carbon budget (CB6) and all subsequent budgetary periods.  Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations revise the hourly rates used to determine the fees which are payable by the UK offshore oil and gas industry (the offshore hydrocarbons industry) to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero’s Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) for certain regulatory activities that are undertaken by OPRED in relation to the environmental management of the offshore hydrocarbons industry. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend the Contracts for Difference (CfD) legislative framework to enable a CfD to be offered to an existing nuclear generating station to support the continuation of generation. The amendment expands the scope of nuclear plants eligible for CfD support so that, where appropriate, existing nuclear generating stations may access a long-term revenue stabilisation mechanism to extend their operational life. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend the Electricity Capacity Regulations 2014 (the 2014 Regulations), the Electricity Capacity (Supplier Payment etc.) Regulations 2014 (the Supplier Payment Regulations) and the Electricity Capacity (No. 1) Regulations 2019 (the 2019 Regulations) to implement technical reforms to the Capacity Market (CM). The changes aim to maintain security of electricity supply, align the scheme with the government’s decarbonisation objectives, and improve its functionality and efficiency to ensure it remains fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving energy system. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations establish the meaning of “digital sequence information” (“DSI”) for the purposes of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act 2026 (the BBNJ Act). The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement) was adopted by consensus at the United Nations on 19 June 2023. The BBNJ Agreement is an important step toward coordinated global action to tackle the climate and nature crisis. The Agreement demonstrates the ongoing role of multilateral institutions in facing global challenges and cements the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the cornerstone of ocean governance. The United Kingdom signed the BBNJ Agreement when it opened for signature on 20 September 2023. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations make amendments to the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2010 (the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations) and the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Household Tumble Dryers) Regulations 2026 (the 2026 Tumble Dryers Regulations).  The amendments to the 2010 Ecodesign Regulations extend the existing arrangement of Conformité Européenne (CE) mark recognition to include Energy-Related Products (ErPs) sold in Great Britain (GB) that are regulated under the European Union’s (EU) Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, being the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This means CE marked ErPs complying with the ESPR regime can be sold in Great Britain (GB), if they conform with GB ecodesign standards, without the need to affix a UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) marking.  Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations help implement the United Kingdom’s obligations under Part IV of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement in relation to environmental impact assessment (EIA) of activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) which are within the remit of marine licensing. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend assimilated law with reference to noise-related operating restrictions at airports. ‘Assimilated law’ refers to what was previously called retained EU law, where it has not been revoked by the end of 2023. ‘Noise-related operating restrictions’ refers to measures which limit the noise climate around airports, such as reducing the operational capacity of an airport. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 inserted Part 1A (strategic plan-making) into the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2024. This places a requirement on strategic planning authorities to prepare a spatial development strategy. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 (the 2009 Regulations) and the Infrastructure Planning (Changes to, and Revocation of, Development Consent Orders) Regulations 2011 (the 2011 Regulations). The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 (the Planning and Infrastructure Act) made various changes to the pre-application and acceptance procedures for applications for orders granting development consent (DCO applications) under the Planning Act 2008 (the Planning Act). Following these changes, applicants for development consent will no longer be required by statute to consult before submitting an application to the Secretary of State. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend the Building Regulations 2010 as they apply in relation to Wales, the Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (the RBCA Regulations) and the Building (Restricted Activities and Functions) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (the Restricted Activities and Functions Regulations). Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations are part of a set of Regulations which implement Part 3 of the Building Safety Act 2022. Part 2 of these Regulations makes a number of amendments to the Building Regulations 2010. Regulation 3 inserts a number of new definitions. Regulation 4, through the insertion of two new regulations, provides that most of the procedural requirements in the Building Regulations 2010 do not apply in relation to higher-risk buildings. (Instead the procedures set out in the Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2025 apply). Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations update the Building Regulations 2010 and associated legislation in Wales, including the Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (Wales) Regulations 2024 and the Building (Restricted Activities and Functions) (Wales) Regulations 2024. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations make amendments to legislation which are consequential on Part 3 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (the 2022 Act). Regulations 2 to 8 make consequential amendments to the County of South Glamorgan Act 1976, the Highways Act 1980, the Clwyd County Council Act 1985, the West Glamorgan Act 1987, the Dyfed Act 1987, the Mid Glamorgan County Council Act 1987 and the Clean Air Act 1993. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations are part of a number of Regulations which implement the Building Safety Act 2022 in respect of higher-risk buildings in Wales. Under section 121A of the Building Act 1984 (the 1984 Act), the building control authority is generally the local authority for the area in which the building or proposed building concerned is situated. However, where a local authority proposes to carry out higher-risk building work (as defined in section 120I of the 1984 Act), regulations can be made under section 91ZD of the 1984 Act designating another local authority as building control authority for that work. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 to align the designation of marine Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to the same procedure as designating Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013, and DAERA’s responsibility for the management and monitoring of European marine sites in the NI inshore region. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

HEALTH & SAFETY LEGISLATION CHANGES

These Regulations amend the amend the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Nuclear Safeguards (Fees) Regulations 2021 to clarify definitions, reporting requirements, and fees, ensuring the UK meets its international nuclear safeguards obligations. These amendments aim to improve clarity, operability, and consistency in the UK’s nuclear safeguards regime while maintaining compliance with international obligations, including those of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and non-proliferation commitments. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply 

These Regulations amend Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (the Cosmetic Regulation) to prohibit the use of 3-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-camphor (commonly known as 4-MBC) in cosmetic products and to reduce the threshold for labelling formaldehyde releasing preservatives used in cosmetic products following scientific assessment. The instrument also prohibits a set of substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR substances) from use in cosmetic products. Find out more about these Regulations and how they affect you by subscribing to We Comply