The House of Commons' Environmental Audit Committee argues that nature should not be scapegoated as a barrier to housing development, emphasising the need for sustainable practices in its report, "Environmental sustainability and housing growth". The committee criticises the Planning & Infrastructure Bill for insufficient measures to meet environmental and housing targets, highlighting severe skills shortages in ecology, planning, and construction. Recommendations include reducing VAT on retrofit projects from 20% to incentivise energy-efficient homes and revising tax policies to favour low-carbon housing, aiming to support the government's target of building 1.5 million homes by 2028.

Consumer protection minister Kate Dearden has dismissed calls for a compulsory builders' licensing scheme in the UK, citing concerns over increased consumer costs and a lack of evidence that such schemes reduce poor-quality work. The debate, initiated by Conservative MP Mark Garnier, highlighted support from 77% of SME builders and 78% of consumers for licensing, referencing successful models in the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Liberal Democrat MPs Tom Gordon and Ben Maguire argued for improving existing systems like TrustMark and enhancing accessible redress mechanisms to address rogue builders effectively.

The New South Wales Planning System Reforms Bill 2025 has been approved by State Parliament, marking the most significant update to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 in decades. This legislative overhaul aims to streamline processes for housing, jobs, infrastructure, and energy projects across the state. The reform is expected to enhance the efficiency of project approvals and align planning with contemporary demands, potentially accelerating development timelines and improving regulatory clarity for engineers and developers.