Following the introduction of new building standards technical handbook guidance developers are required to make a building warrant application for any work to install or replace existing cladding to buildings, with the exception of carrying out minor repairs.

The new revision to the guidance also includes a ban on highly combustible metal composite material panels in new building work, and a ban on the use combustible materials in external wall cladding systems on dwellings and other defined 'relevant buildings' with a storey height of 11m or more.

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These changes are part of several that have been made as a result of the setting up of the Building and Fire Safety Ministerial Working Group. This group had commissioned research into improving fire safety in buildings following the Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017.

In addition to the changes introduced in June, further amendments are scheduled to Section 3 (environment), Section 6 (energy) and Section 7 (sustainability) which will apply from 1 December 2022. These changes to the Technical Handbook have been published and are also available on the Scottish Government website along with a summary of the changes.