Major renovation works
The Scottish Building Standards, Part I. Technical Handbook – Domestic, Appendix A Defined Terms, defines major renovation works as: ‘…works at the end user's location encompassing structural modifications of the entire in-building physical infrastructure, or of a significant part of it.’
Approved document S, Infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles, published in 2021 by HM Government, defines a major renovation as: ‘The renovation of a building where more than 25% of the surface area of the building envelope undergoes renovation.’
This definition is repeated in Approved document L, Conservation of Fuel and Power, Volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2021 edition incorporating 2023 amendments, and in Regulation 35 of the building regulations.
Approved document S goes on to state: ‘The surface area of the whole building must be included when assessing whether the works constitute a major renovation, even if the building is mixed use.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
BSRIA Statutory Compliance Inspection Checklist
BG80/2025 now significantly updated to include requirements related to important changes in legislation.
Shortlist for the 2025 Roofscape Design Awards
Talent and innovation showcase announcement from the trussed rafter industry.
OpenUSD possibilities: Look before you leap
Being ready for the OpenUSD solutions set to transform architecture and design.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Now available in Arabic and Chinese aswell as English.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.