Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what powers do local authorities have to ensure compliance of developments with regulations on energy efficiency.

Minimum energy efficiency requirements for new buildings are set through the Building Regulations. Local authorities have formal enforcement powers for dealing with breaches of the Building Regulations.

Section 35 of the Building Act 1984 allows a local authority to bring a prosecution in the Magistrates' Court for a breach of the Building Regulations, where an unlimited fine may be imposed.

Through Section 36 of the Building Act, local authorities have the power to require work to be rectified if it does not meet Building Regulations’ requirements.