Welsh Government | A new Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales

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A new Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales

Environment Minster, John Griffiths has announced the appointment of a new Chair who will help Wales in its efforts to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of its built environment.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

The Minister has confirmed that Professor Phillip Jones will chair the first, Wales only, Building Regulations Advisory Committee.

The Wales only Committee is being established as a result of building regulations being devolved to Wales with effect from 31 December 2011 and will advise Welsh Ministers on Building Regulations policy and how best to exercise their new powers including how to deliver the 55% energy improvement in new housing target.

Until now this function has been carried out on an England and Wales basis.

Speaking about the appointment, the Minister said:

“The devolution of building regulations to Wales provides us with a real opportunity to respond to the needs of Wales on important matters of health and safety and to build more sustainably to reduce the impact that the construction industry has on our environment.

“The new Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales will be key to ensuring that Welsh Ministers make the best decisions for Wales. I am therefore delighted that someone with Professor Jones’ wealth of experience and expertise has agreed to take up this important post. “

The new Chair of the Committee, Professor Phillip Jones said:

“I am delighted and honoured to be appointed to the chair of the Wales Building Regulation Advisory Committee, and look forward to helping Wales deliver its first set of Building Regulations.

“It is important that we consult widely to ensure that our regulations are appropriate to the Welsh situation, and in particular to support Wales’ transition towards a more sustainable built environment."

Professor Phillip Jones has been the Head of School at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, since 2004. He chairs the Wales Low Carbon Research Institute, a consortium of six Welsh Universities, working with industry and government to provide research and training relating to the low carbon agenda. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales. In his teaching and research activities Professor Jones has extensively covered energy use, environmental design and sustainability in the built environment.

Professor Jones was a member of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee for England and Wales from 2000- 2006 and chaired the review of Parts L (Conservation of fuel and power) and F(Ventilation) in 2006

The Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales will be made up of a Chair and initially seven committee members. The committee members will be announced shortly.