A brief summary of current government consultations of potential interest to RSN members. This is not intended as an exhaustive list of all relevant consultations.

- Download a printable version of the Government Consultations here

Single-use plastic: banning the supply of commonly littered single-use plastic items – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Defra wants to know what you think about a plan to ban the supply of single-use plastic. This includes:

• plates
• cutlery
• balloon sticks
• expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drink containers

You can also contribute to Defra’s call for evidence on commonly littered single-use plastic items.

Both these consultations close on 12 February 2022.

Single-use plastic: banning the supply of commonly littered single-use plastic items - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Phasing out the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

This consultation sets out proposals to phase out the installation of high carbon fossil fuel heating systems in homes off the gas grid, as committed to in the 2017 Clean Growth Strategy.

Government are seeking views on their proposals to introduce targeted regulations that will drive decarbonisation of heat in off gas grid homes, including:

• an end to new fossil fuel heating installations in homes off the gas grid from 2026
• a ‘heat pump first’ approach to replacement heating systems in homes off the gas grid from 2026
• requiring high performing replacement heating systems where heat pumps cannot reasonably practicably be installed

They would like views from the heating industry, consumers, and those with a wider interest in the UK’s net zero ambition.

This consultation closes on 12 January 2022.

Phasing out the installation of fossil fuel heating in homes off the gas grid - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Phasing out the installation of fossil fuel heating systems in businesses and public buildings off the gas grid – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

This consultation sets out proposals to phase out fossil fuel heating system installations in businesses and public buildings off the gas grid during the 2020s, as committed to in the 2017 Clean Growth Strategy.

It seeks views on:

• using the natural replacement cycle as the trigger for phasing out fossil fuel heating systems
• introducing the policy using a phased approach with the largest buildings first, followed by smaller buildings
• taking a heat pump first approach to the replacement of those fossil fuel systems
• allowing the limited use of alternative low carbon systems where a heat pump is not suitable
• the cost trajectory for the installation of these low carbon technologies and the ability of businesses to pay.

This consultation closes on 12 January 2022.

Phasing out the installation of fossil fuel heating systems in businesses and public buildings off the gas grid - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

National Infrastructure Planning Reform Programme: stakeholder survey – Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

Government are undertaking a comprehensive end-to-end review of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Planning (NSIP) process and all its interactions.

The government is keen to hear from all those who engage with the NSIP regime on what they see as the main issues affecting each principal stage of the process, and what potential solutions might be deployed to remedy these.

This consultation closes on 17 December 2021.

National Infrastructure Planning Reform Programme: stakeholder survey - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)