The government is not enforcing Part L of the Building Regulations with some building control departments failing to police the regulations or turning a blind eye to them, according to John Miller president of the HVCA.

Speaking at the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association President’s lunch, he said: “Our representations on this key issue to the Department for Communities and Local Government have so far gone unrewarded.

“Government must put its house in order on an issue that has massive implications not only for engineering services, not only for construction, but – ultimately – for the nation and the planet.

“Positive action must be taken now. The new regulations have teeth. Now they must be made to bite.”

Miller added the HVCA welcomed the Part L revisions, which introduced tighter energy efficiency requirements for h&v projects in new and existing buildings. In particular, this had involved a broadening of the range of work that must be notified to local authority building control for inspection and approval, and the development of Competent Persons schemes that allow suitably qualified contractors to self-certify their work as complaint with the regulations.