Consultation Responses

NFCC’s Strategy and Policy Team prepares responses to government consultations on behalf of UK fire and rescue services, including consultations run by the devolved administrations. We work closely with subject matter experts within NFCC and fire and rescue services to ensure our responses are evidence-based and representative of our members’ views.

Consultation response catalogue

2026

July:

Developing a new College of Fire and Rescue. Consultation on how the establishment of the College of Fire and Rescue could best support future capability, professional development and resilience across the fire and rescue sector.
Proposals to amend Approved Document B. Consultation on updating guidance to the Building Regulations in England.

June:

Ofwat Consultations June 2026. NFCC response to Ofwat consultations relating to PR24 delivery, adoption agreements, asset management competence, and specified infrastructure projects.
Plug-in solar consultation. Consultation on proposals to enable the safe and legal use of plug-in solar (plug-in microgeneration) products in the UK.
Product regulation: Market surveillance and enforcement framework. Consultation on proposed reforms to the UK’s product regulation market surveillance and enforcement.
Product regulation: Product safety framework. Consultation on a new, modernised and enhanced core product safety framework.
Product regulation: The fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture. Final consultation on the comprehensive reform of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

April:

Green Paper: Shaping the future of water governance in Wales. Consultation on the reform of water governance for Wales.

March:

Single Construction Regulator Prospectus. Views sought on proposals for regulatory reform and the development of a single construction regulator.
National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system. Seeking views on a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system.

February:

PFAS in firefighting foam restriction proposal. Consultation on proposed restrictions on the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams.

January:

Provisional Provisional local government finance settlement 2026 to 2027. Consultation on the annual process through which central government allocates funding to local government for the provision of local services in England.
Legislative and guidance proposals for the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Consultation on regulatory and non-regulatory proposals, including amending the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to minimise the risk of exposure from asbestos to workers and building users after the removal of asbestos.

2025

December:

Draft National Framework for Fire and Rescue Services (Wales). Consultation on the draft National Framework, which sets out and explains objectives which Fire and Rescue Authorities in Wales should pursue in exercising their functions.
Tobacco and vapes: Evidence to support legislation. Call for evidence on flavours and ingredients, licensing, and product registration for tobacco and vape products.

October:

Streamlining infrastructure planning. This consultation seeks views on changes to guidance, services operated by the public sector, and secondary legislation to streamline the infrastructure planning process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Modernising the Environmental Permitting Regulations for industry. Consultation on regulatory reforms to modernise the environmental permitting framework for the industry and energy sectors.
Ofwat Consumer Involvement in Company Decision-Making Rule. Consultation on our proposals to introduce a rule to require companies to have arrangements in place for involving consumers in their decisions.
Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) five-year priorities. Consultation on The strategic goals and opportunities for collaboration to inform AACE’s future direction and strengthen support across the UK ambulance sector.

September:

Autonomous Vehicles. A combined response to three public consultations by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) on their proposals around autonomous vehicles, including protecting marketing terms, a statement of safety principles from manufacturers, and a permitting scheme for automated passenger services.
Revised Decent Homes Standard. Consultation on a reformed Decent Homes Standard, which will establish the minimum housing standards that tenants in both social and private rented sectors can expect from their landlords.
Waste Batteries: Appropriate Measures for Permitted Facilities. Consultation on waste batteries and the appropriate measures for permitted facilities.

August:

Building Control Independent Panel – informing recommendations to government. Call for evidence to inform recommendations made by the Building Control Independent Panel.
Call for evidence: Inquiry into the Building Safety Regulator. An inquiry into building safety regulation, with a particular focus on the work of the Building Safety Regulator.
Fair Funding Review 2.0. A consultation on the Government’s proposed approach to local authority funding reform through the Local Government Finance Settlement from 2026-27.
Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill. The Finance and Public Administration Committee is seeking views on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill.
Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme. Public consultation on the draft Third Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme (NICCAP3).
Higher-Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 2023. Consultation on the proposal to amend the Higher-Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 2023 to clarify the meaning of ‘storey’.

May:

Construction Products Reform Green Paper. Consultation on proposals for institutional and regulatory reform of the construction products regime.
Supported Housing Regulation. Consultation on the implementation of measures in the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, focusing on a licensing regime, National Supported Housing Standards, and Housing Benefit.
Heather and Grass Burning in England. Consultation on proposed amendments to the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021.
Ofcom: Enabling Satellite D2D Services in Mobile Spectrum Bands. Consultation on proposals to authorise the use of spectrum bands used by the UK’s Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) for satellite Direct to Device (D2D) services.

April:

Local Government Association: Local Government and Legal Responsibilities to Act on Climate Change. Consultation seeking the views of councils and interested parties on whether councils should be set a statutory duty or duties to act on climate change.

March:

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed Review of Fire Safety Topics, Including Cameron House Hotel Recommendations. Consultation seeking the views and opinions of stakeholders on a review of building standards relating to the fire safety of historic buildings converted for hotel use.

February:

Integrated National Transport Strategy Call for Ideas. The Department for Transport’s public call for ideas to support the development of an Integrated National Transport Strategy for England.
Changes to Employee Contributions within the Firefighter Pension Scheme (Wales). Views sought by the Welsh Government on proposed amendments to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015.
Strengthening the Standards and Conduct Framework for Local Authorities in England. This consultation seeks views on proposals to introduce measures to strengthen the standards and conduct regime for local authorities in England
Local Authority Funding Reform: Objectives and Principles. Consultation on updating how local authorities are funded through the local government finance settlement.

January:

Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2025–26 Consultation. Consultation seeking views on the proposals for the local government finance settlement for 2025–26.
Firefighters Pensions Member Contribution Structure. Consultation on proposed updates to the Firefighters’ Pensions Scheme member contribution structure.
Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 – Fixed Penalty Notice Amendment. Views sought on introducing fixed penalty notices for breaches of the single-use vape ban.
Proposed Changes to Water Company Drought Plan Guidelines. The Environment Agency are consulting on the guideline that water companies in England must follow when they start preparing their 2027 drought plans.

2024

December:

Vaping Product Duty Technical Consultation. Views sought on proposals for duty stamps on vaping products, and possible controls on the supply of nicotine
Common Charger for Electrical Devices: Call for Evidence. Views sought on the introduction across the UK of a common charger for mobile phones and other portable electrical and electronic devices.

November

Electric Vehicle Charging in Residential and Non-residential Buildings (Wales). Views sought on changes to Building Regulations to ensure electric vehicle (EV) charging points are included in new residential buildings, new non-residential buildings, and buildings undergoing major renovations or material change in use.
Scottish Building Safety Levy. Views sought on proposals for a tax on developers, aiming to raise funds to fix building safety issues in Scotland.

October:

HMICFRS Policing Inspection Programme and Framework. Views sought on HMICFRS’s proposed inspection programme and framework for the police for 2025-29, including proposed joint thematic inspections on cybersecurity and JESIP in the police and the FRS.

September:

Proposed reforms to National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Views sought on the proposed approach to revising the NPPF and on wider policy proposals on increasing planning fees, local plan intervention criteria, and thresholds for certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
HMICFRS proposed fire and rescue services inspection programme and framework 2025–27. Views sought on proposed changes to HMICFRS’s FRS inspection programme, including fire governance, community resilience, leadership, and efficiency.

July:

Social Tenants Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs). Views sought on proposals to enable social tenants to access information about their homes, including the publication scheme, information request process, provider costs, and application to tenant management organisations.
Review of the Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education, and Health Education Statutory Guidance. Views sought on changes to the curriculum, including the addition of content on community safety risks such as fire safety, road safety, water safety, and vaping.

June:

UK REACH – PFAS firefighting foams – Call for evidence. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is gathering information and evidence relating to firefighting foams which contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Draft Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy for Wales. Welsh Government consultation seeking views on the vision and objectives of the Draft Suicide and Self-harm Prevention Strategy.

May:

Vaping Product Duty. Views sought on proposals for the design and implementation of a new UK-wide Vaping Products Duty
Implementing the prohibition of the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland.Views sought on how to implement the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations.

April:

Smarter regulation: proposed changes to legislation for electrically assisted pedal cycles. Seeks views on proposed changes to the regulations on electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs or e-cycles/e-bikes).
Street works access: electric vehicle chargepoint operators. Consultation on changing legal access for street works carried out by electric vehicle chargepoint operators.
Changes to various permitted development rights. Consultation on on changes to several existing permitted development rights that allow for householder development, building upwards to create new homes, the demolition of certain buildings and rebuild as homes, electric vehicle charge points and air source heat pumps.
Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing. Views on a regulatory Competence and Conduct Standard for social housing staff including qualification requirements.

March:

The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 draft SI. Draft version of the statutory instrument to ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes in England.
Martyn’s Law: standard tier consultation. Consultation on the requirements imposed on standard tier premises under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill.
Draft Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024: consultation. Views sought on proposals to ban single use vapes.
Consultation on reforms to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. Views sought on reforms to the WEEE Regulations 2013, which are intended to drive up levels of separately collected WEEE for re-use and recycling.
Future Homes and Buildings Standards: 2023 consultation. Views on changes to Part 6, Part L and Part F of the Building Regulations for dwellings and non-domestic buildings.
Awaab’s Law: Consultation on Timescales for Repairs in the Social Rented Sector. A consultation on new requirements under ‘Awaab’s Law’, including timescales for repairs in the social rented sector.

February:

Second technical consultation on the Building Safety Levy. Views on the design and implementation of the Building Safety Levy.
Cyber Governance – Call for Views. Views sought on a Cyber Governance Code of Practice.
Consultation on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland). Views and evidence in relation to the proposal to devolve powers to the Scottish Parliament to create a Building Safety Levy.
Government resilience: extreme weather inquiry. Evidence submitted to the Commons Public Accounts Committee on Government resilience to extreme weather.

January:

Consultation on building standards enforcement and sanctions (Scotland). Consultation on strengthening existing provisions within the Scottish building standard system.
Call for evidence: Smarter regulation and the regulatory landscape. Call for evidence on what works and what could be improved across the landscape of UK regulators.
Purpose-built Student Accommodation London Plan Guidance. Consultation on delivering appropriate levels of purpose-build student accommodation (PBSA), including affordable student accommodation, as part of the London Plan.
Consultation on amendments to Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations (Wales). Views on plans to amend the building regulations for Approved Document Part B (Fire Safety) in Wales.

2023

December:

The Smoke, Heat and Carbon Monoxide Alarms for Private Tenancies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024. Consultation on regulations to specify the type, condition and the number of fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in private rented properties.
Consultation on creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping. A consultation on the proposed actions the UK Government and devolved administrations will take to tackle smoking and youth vaping.

November:

Provision of information to tenants: Direction to the Social Housing Regulator on tenants’ rights and complaints. Consultation on directions from the Secretary of State to the Regulator of Social Housing in relation to the provision of information on tenants’ rights and complaints.
Review of energy efficiency requirements and related areas of Building Regulations (Northern Ireland). Consultation on a review of energy efficiency requirements and related areas of Building Regulations.
Submission to the House of Lords Built Environment Committee Short Inquiry: Modern Methods of Construction.

October:

Smarter Regulation: UK product safety review. Views on the long-term approach to product safety, and how to ensure that the regulatory framework is fit for the future.
Smarter Regulation: Fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture. Views on a proposed new approach to the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture and furnishings.
Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill: consultation on implementation of plan-making reforms. Views on proposals to implement the parts of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which relate to plan-making.

September:

Consultation on permitted development rights. Consultation on additional flexibilities to support housing delivery, the agricultural sector, businesses, high streets and open prisons
Consultation on Fire Safety Changes to the Local Building Regulations Northern Ireland. Views on amendments to uplift fire safety protection measures in a range of buildings in Northern Ireland.

June:

Consultation on the Decent Homes Standard.
Competence information for managing building safety on higher-risk buildings. Consultation on the information document that highlights the necessary competency for those managing high-risk buildings, including a summary of the recent British standard, publicly available specification.
Regulation of the Building Control profession and Building Control bodies in Wales. Consultation on the provisions Wales needs to make in regulations to support changes to the Building Control profession and bodies.
Building safety competence information for principal contractors and principal designers.
Technical consultation on the Infrastructure Levy. Joint response of the emergency services.
Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights.
Consultation on registration scheme for short-term lets in England.

May:

Commencement of Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 in Wales. Views on timings for commencing changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order to improve fire safety in business and multi-occupied residential buildings in Wales.
Consultation on the definition of a higher-risk building in Wales.

April:

Consultation on permitted development rights: supporting temporary recreational campsites, renewable energy, and film-making. Views on proposed changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.
Alternative cost recovery for remediation works: consultation on proposals to make regulations and statutory guidance under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

March:

Options to recommend sprinklers in care homes, remove national classifications from Approved Document B, and recommend a maximum height threshold for the use of one staircase in blocks of flats. Consultation on sprinklers in care homes, removal of national classifications from Approved Document B, and recommendation of a maximum height threshold for the use of one staircase in blocks of flats.
Changes to the building control profession and the building control process for approved inspectors (in future to be known as registered building control approvers).
Fire suppression systems in care homes for children. Views on proposals to amend the Building Regulations 2010 to include the requirement for automatic fire suppression systems in children’s homes.

January:

Consultation: Building Safety Directors. Views on the proposal to appoint a Building Safety Director to the board of directors of Resident Management Companies and Right to Manage Companies as part of their statutory duties under Part 4 of the Building Safety Act 2022.

2022

October:

Building Safety Regulator – Operational Standards Rules consultation. Views on the proposed operational standards rules for building control bodies.
Consultation on the new safety regime for occupied higher-risk buildings. Consultation covering the proposed changes to building regulations under part 4 of the Building Safety Act 2022.
Consultation on implementing the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings and wider changes to the building regulations for all buildings. Consultation covering the proposed changes to building regulations under part 3 of the Building Safety Act 2022.

August:

Improving disabled people’s access to let residential premises: reasonable adjustments to common parts, a new duty. Views on proposals to require landlords to make reasonable adjustments to common parts of let properties (such as entrances and hallways) when asked to by a disabled person.
Emergency Evacuation Information Sharing +. Views on new proposals to support the fire safety of residents who would need support to evacuate in an emergency situation.

July: