The BWF and our members are regularly consulted by Government and other bodies on policies, standards, legislation and regulations affecting the woodworking and joinery industry.
Below is a list of open consultations that we believe will have an impact on our members and our industry as a whole.
| Organisation | Heading | Description | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Developing an ecosystem restoration code for Scotland | In the 2024 Natural Capital Market Framework, the Scottish Government (SG) committed to supporting the development of an Ecosystem Restoration Code (ERC) for Scotland as a new high-integrity market mechanism that could attract responsible private investment into nature restoration and biodiversity projects. This commitment is being delivered in 2025 via an SG-NatureScot partnership project. SG has published an Engagement Paper which summarises the results of the Discovery Phase of the ERC project. It sets out the key issues and questions that will be explored during co-development of the ERC with nature / biodiversity market stakeholders during the Engagement Phase (April to July 2025). As part of our co-design approach to developing the Ecosystem Restoration Code, our preference is to speak to stakeholders at specific Engagement Phase events (workshops, 1-2-1 meetings). However, we have also set up a survey on SG Citizen Space. The full consultation documents can be found here | 29 June 2025 |
| Wales | Changes to permitted development rights | The Welsh Government want your views on: Proposed changes to permitted development rights in relation to: • air source heat pumps • off-street parking electric vehicle charging units • temporary camp sites • development by statutory undertakers (electricity) • emergency affordable housing and meanwhile uses • definition of major development The introduction of permitted development rights for: • reverse vending machines The full consultation documents can be found here | 1 July 2025 |
| Northern Ireland | Consultation on Shaping Sustainable Places | Shaping Sustainable Places aims to create a flagship programme of interventions to arrest the decline in our valued village, town and city centres. Shaping Sustainable Places lays the foundation for new ways of delivering regeneration outcomes. We aim to engage communities at the earliest stages of planning for change, developing solutions to specific place-based challenges through funding local physical and infrastructure projects. The full consultation documents can be found here | 24 August 2025 |
| England and UK | A policy framework to grow the market for low carbon industrial products | The government is consulting on a framework to deliver the guidance, tools, and levers to help buyers identify and compare lower carbon industrial products, with an initial focus on the steel, cement, and concrete sectors. The government’s policies are expected to enable buyers (including public bodies who have substantial purchasing power) to make informed choices through better information on the carbon content of industrial goods. An increased demand signal should drive the growth and mobilisation of ‘green’ investment and ultimately lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The government is consulting on a framework to deliver the guidance, tools, and levers to help buyers identify and compare lower carbon industrial products, with an initial focus on the steel, cement, and concrete sectors. The consultation is designed to gather views and evidence from stakeholders to facilitate the policy making process and does not constitute a statement of government policy. Following this consultation, further policy development will be needed before new policies are finalised. The government will continue engagement with stakeholders throughout this process. The consultation is anticipated to be of particular interest to stakeholders involved in the manufacture, sale or purchasing of in-scope products such as steel, cement, and concrete or stakeholders involved in the production and usage of life cycle assessments displayed in product carbon footprints or environment product declarations. Full Consultation can be found here | 15 September 2025 |
