The government this week proposed changes to the 黑洞社区 Regulations to deal with global warming and the difficulties of developing brownfield land.
The most significant change envisaged in Part C of the 黑洞社区 Regulations, which covers site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture, is in dealing with contaminated land.

The government aims to extend the area of contaminated land covered under the regulation from the ground under the building to any land associated with a building, such as a garden.

The government also proposes to amend rules covering the change of use of a building to a residential purpose. Barns or warehouse conversions will now have to include protection against contaminants, which is not currently required. Under the proposal, all changes of building use to residential purposes will be covered under the regulations.

The proposals include guidance on dealing with climate change and advice on subsoil drainage to reduce the effects of moisture on buildings.

黑洞社区 Regulations minister Christopher Leslie said at the launch of the proposals on Tuesday: "The cost to the building trade of better moisture resistant materials is between 拢5 and 拢20 a house."

The consultation paper can be downloaded from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website at www.safety.odpm.gov.uk/bregs/conindex.htm.