Construction & Property

Building, civil engineering, property development, trades and construction services.

155 guides
61 journeys
15 regulators

Browsing by sector — Guidance organised by industry. Find what you need based on who it applies to.

Business activities

This sector covers the following areas of business activity:

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Key regulators

These regulatory bodies oversee compliance in this sector:

  • Environment Agency Environmental protection in England. Regulates waste, emissions, water quality, flood risk, and environmental permits for industrial activities. Enforces environmental law …
  • ARB Regulates use of the title 'architect' in the UK. Maintains register of architects, sets standards of conduct and practice, investigates …
  • BSR Regulates building safety for higher-risk buildings (18+ metres or 7+ storeys with at least 2 residential units) in England. Established …
  • CITB Statutory training board for the construction industry. Collects the CITB Levy from construction employers and operates the Construction Skills Certification …
  • FENSA Government-authorised Competent Person Scheme for replacement windows, doors, and roof windows in England and Wales. Allows registered installers to self-certify …
  • Historic England Public body that champions and protects England's historic environment. Advises on heritage protection, maintains the National Heritage List (listed buildings, …
  • Homes England Government's housing delivery agency. Provides funding, land, and expertise to deliver new homes. Administers affordable housing programmes, Help to Buy, …
  • IET Professional body for engineering and technology. Publishes BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations), the UK standard for electrical installation. Not …
  • MHCLG Government department responsible for housing and planning, building safety, communities and local growth, local government, homelessness, and democracy and elections. …
  • Mining Remediation Authority Manages effects of historical coal mining in England, Scotland, and Wales. Handles subsidence damage claims, mine water pollution, and other …
  • National Highways Government company responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving England's strategic road network (motorways and major A-roads). Sets standards for highway …
  • Natural England Government adviser for the natural environment in England. Responsible for wildlife licensing (protected species), designating and managing protected sites (SSSIs, …
  • OFTEC Government-authorised Competent Person Scheme for oil heating installations. Registered technicians can self-certify oil boiler, tank, and fuel system installations for …
  • HES Investigates, cares for, and promotes Scotland's historic environment. Designates listed buildings, scheduled monuments, and conservation areas in Scotland.
  • Cadw Welsh Government's historic environment service. Protects, conserves, and promotes historic buildings, ancient monuments, and historic landscapes in Wales.

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Guided journeys

Step-by-step guides for businesses in this sector:

Starting a waste business

Complete compliance guide for waste transfer stations, treatment facilities, skip hire, and recycling centres. Covers environmental permits, waste carrier registration, and ongoing obligations.

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Gateway 2 preparation checklist

Quick readiness check before submitting your Gateway 2 application to BSR. For teams already familiar with the Building Safety Act who need a final pre-submission verification.

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Contamination discovered on your site

What to do when contamination is discovered during construction or building works. Covers immediate steps, reporting obligations, liability assessment, engaging regulators, and remediation options.

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New higher-risk building development compliance

Learning path for developers undertaking their first higher-risk building project under the Building Safety Act 2022. Covers the gateway process, golden thread requirements, and handover to the Accountable Person.

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Complete your CIS monthly compliance

A practical week-by-week workflow for CIS contractors. Know exactly what to do on each day of the tax month cycle, from verifying subcontractors on the 6th to paying deductions by the 22nd. Designed to make CIS a routine habit rather than a monthly crisis.

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Protect your business from CIS supply chain fraud

From 6 April 2026, contractors face severe penalties if they 'knew or should have known' about fraud in their supply chain. This learning path explains the new rules, helps you assess your risk, and guides you through implementing due diligence to protect your business from 30% penalties and GPS cancellation.

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Ecological compliance for development projects

Learn the full lifecycle of ecological obligations when developing land, from protected species surveys and wildlife licensing through to biodiversity net gain and post-construction monitoring.

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Fix CIS payment errors

Something gone wrong with CIS? This troubleshooting guide helps contractors and subcontractors identify and fix common Construction Industry Scheme errors, from wrong deduction rates to late return penalties.

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CIS compliance quick check

Monthly CIS compliance essentials for experienced contractors. Three key actions: verify subcontractors, calculate deductions, submit your return by the 19th.

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Keep and maintain your gross payment status

Everything you need to know to keep your CIS gross payment status once granted. Learn when HMRC reviews your GPS, what triggers cancellation or revocation, how to protect your status through proactive compliance, and what to do if your GPS is at risk.

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CDM compliance quick check

Quick CDM checklist before construction begins. Four key actions: check if notifiable, appoint duty holders, submit F10 if required, ensure construction phase plan exists.

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I've made a CIS mistake - how to fix it

Something gone wrong with CIS? This troubleshooting journey helps contractors identify their mistake, correct errors, reduce penalties, and appeal if they have a reasonable excuse.

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Meet environmental compliance requirements

Navigate your environmental obligations including waste duty of care, pollution prevention, packaging responsibilities, and energy reporting

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Planning appeal process

What to do when your planning application is refused. Understand your options, assess your chances, and decide whether to appeal, amend, or walk away.

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Managing an occupied higher-risk building

Learning path for Accountable Persons and property managers responsible for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. Covers registration, safety case reports, golden thread, and resident engagement duties.

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CIS essentials for small builders

The 5 things you need to know about CIS if you use subcontractors. A 5-minute guide for builders, plumbers, electricians and other trades. No jargon, just the essentials.

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Development blocked by nutrient neutrality

Your site is in a nutrient-affected catchment and you can't get planning permission. This guide explains your options for achieving neutrality and moving your project forward.

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Responding to CDM enforcement action

What to do when HSE takes enforcement action or investigates your construction site for CDM breaches. Covers improvement notices, prohibition notices, prosecution, and preventing future enforcement.

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Do I need an environmental permit?

Quick assessment of whether your business activities require an environmental permit from the Environment Agency or local council.

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Meet anti-money laundering requirements

Essential guide to AML compliance for UK businesses in regulated sectors. Covers registration with supervisors, customer due diligence, suspicious activity reporting, appointing an MLRO, record keeping, staff training, and penalties for non-compliance.

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Protected species found on your development site

What to do when protected species are discovered on your development site, from immediate actions through licensing and managing project delays.

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Understanding construction tax obligations

A complete picture of how CIS, VAT reverse charge, CITB, and PAYE work together for construction businesses. Learn how these four tax systems interact, which apply to you, and how to manage them as an integrated compliance burden.

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Getting started with CIS

A comprehensive learning path for anyone new to the Construction Industry Scheme. Understand how CIS works, decide whether you're a contractor or subcontractor (or both), and learn your registration requirements and ongoing obligations. Covers deductions, monthly returns, and claiming back overpaid tax.

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Responding to environmental enforcement

What to do if you receive an enforcement notice or warning letter from an environmental regulator. Covers types of enforcement action, immediate steps, appeal rights, and demonstrating improvement.

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Plan safe work at height

Learning path for planning and managing work at height safely. Covers the hierarchy of controls, equipment selection, scaffolding management, MEWP operation, and roof work precautions.

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Developing contaminated or brownfield land

Complete guide to developing contaminated sites - from initial due diligence through site investigation, remediation, and verification. Covers both Part 2A and planning system contamination requirements.

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Using occasional labour - CIS quick check

A 3-minute decision tree for sole traders wondering if CIS applies when they pay a labourer or mate to help on a construction job. Find out your obligations in plain English.

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Building regulations compliance for renovation

Navigate building control approval, thermal upgrade requirements, and competent person schemes when renovating business premises

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Small site planning fast track

Quick checklist for SME developers submitting minor residential applications (1-9 dwellings). Skip the explanation - get straight to what you need to do.

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Your GPS was cancelled - recovery path

Steps to take after your CIS gross payment status is cancelled. Understand the critical difference between cancellation and revocation, manage the immediate cashflow impact, and plan your path to re-application.

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Do I need a wildlife licence for my project?

Quick decision tree to determine if your development or land management activity requires a wildlife licence from Natural England.

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Do I need permission to fell trees or remove hedgerows?

Quick check covering felling licences, TPOs, conservation areas, and hedgerow regulations. Determine what permissions you need before carrying out tree or hedgerow works.

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Respond to highway works penalties and enforcement

What to do when you receive a Fixed Penalty Notice, Section 74 overrun charge, or reinstatement defect notice for street works. Covers payment deadlines, early payment discounts, how to challenge penalties, and steps to prevent repeat offences.

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Run a construction business

Ongoing compliance, site safety, and operational requirements for established construction businesses

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Achieving nutrient neutrality

Step-by-step guide to achieving nutrient neutrality for development in affected catchments. Learn how to calculate your nutrient budget, identify mitigation options, and prepare your planning application.

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Drainage and utilities infrastructure compliance

Complete learning path for property developers and contractors working on drainage and utilities infrastructure. Covers Approved Document H drainage design, sewer adoption under Section 104, SuDS requirements in England and Wales, confined spaces safety, cable avoidance, and environmental permits.

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Complete guide to highway works compliance

End-to-end learning path for contractors new to highway works in England. Covers the legal framework, permit types, required qualifications, traffic management, reinstatement standards, penalties, and road adoption.

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Grow your construction business

Scale your construction business - win public contracts, build your workforce, achieve accreditations, and manage subcontractors at scale

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VAT compliance for construction

Construction-specific VAT guidance including the domestic reverse charge. Essential for subcontractors and main contractors to understand when the reverse charge applies, how to invoice correctly, and how to account for VAT on returns.

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Construction materials regulatory compliance

Learning path covering the regulatory obligations for construction materials in Great Britain. Understand product marking (CE and UKCA), hazardous materials management under COSHH, aggregate levy, and timber sourcing compliance.

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Highway works quick compliance check

Quick-check permit type, notice period, qualification requirements, and fixed penalty notice amounts before starting highway works. For experienced contractors who need a pre-start compliance refresher.

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Structural incident on site: what to do now

Emergency response for excavation collapse, structural instability, or unexpected failure during construction works. Covers immediate safety actions, RIDDOR reporting, HSE notification, making safe, structural assessment, and investigation to prevent recurrence.

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Building Safety Act for SME contractors

A learning path for small and medium construction businesses working on higher-risk building projects under the Building Safety Act 2022. Covers what the Act means for contractors, your duties on HRB projects, golden thread responsibilities, change control, and handover obligations.

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SME housebuilder planning guide

Comprehensive planning guidance for small and medium housebuilders. Learn how to navigate the planning system efficiently, take advantage of small site easements, and manage S106 and environmental requirements proportionately.

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Structural works pre-start compliance check

Quick pre-start checklist for structural works: demolition notices, asbestos surveys, temporary works design, excavation safety, and LOLER examinations. Use before beginning any structural, demolition, or deep excavation work.

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Start a construction business

Set up and register a construction, building, or trades business

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Obtaining an environmental permit for regulated activities

Determine if you need an environmental permit, navigate the application process, and understand permit conditions for pollution control

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Utility strike: what to do now

Emergency response for striking gas, electric, water, or telecoms services during digging. Covers immediate danger actions in the first minutes, reporting obligations to HSE and utility companies, RIDDOR requirements, and steps to prevent recurrence.

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Managing CDM Regulations compliance on construction projects

Navigate your CDM 2015 duties - from identifying your role to HSE notification and construction phase planning

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Start a lettings agency

Compliance requirements for starting a property letting business in the UK

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Managing business waste and duty of care compliance

Navigate your legal obligations for business waste - duty of care, waste carriers, transfer notes, and preparing for new recycling rules

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Planning permission for new development

A complete guide to getting planning permission for your first development project, from understanding when you need permission to navigating conditions and obligations.

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SuDS approval in Wales: quick guide

Quick checklist for mandatory Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) approval in Wales. Check if you need approval, how to apply to your local SAB, and understand penalties for non-compliance.

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Higher-risk building registration checklist

Quick registration checklist for Principal Accountable Persons registering a higher-risk building with the Building Safety Regulator. Covers eligibility, required information, fees, and post-registration obligations.

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Responding to planning enforcement

What to do if you receive a planning enforcement notice. Understand the type of notice you have received, review your options, and find out how to appeal or comply.

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Golden thread compliance check

Quick compliance check for duty holders to verify their golden thread meets Building Safety Act requirements. Covers format, content, access controls, and phase-specific obligations for design, construction, and occupation.

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Development affecting protected species in Scotland

Learning path for developers whose projects may affect protected species in Scotland. Covers the legal framework, ecology surveys, NatureScot species licensing, offences and penalties, and how species protection integrates with the Scottish planning system.

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Responding to a heritage enforcement notice in Scotland

What to do if you receive a heritage enforcement notice in Scotland. Covers listed building enforcement notices, scheduled monument enforcement, response deadlines, appeal rights, and retrospective consent applications.

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Scottish heritage compliance quick check

Rapid compliance check for works affecting scheduled monuments, listed buildings, and conservation areas in Scotland. Covers Historic Environment Scotland consents, local authority requirements, and enforcement penalties.

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Construction near a heritage site in Scotland

Learning path for construction businesses working near protected heritage assets in Scotland. Covers scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas, archaeological assessments, and how heritage and nature designations interact under Scottish planning law.

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Water Framework Directive compliance for businesses

Complete compliance pathway for businesses whose activities may affect water body status — from understanding the WFD framework through identifying which licences, permits, or consents you need, to applying, monitoring, and reporting. Covers England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

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