Facilities management is becoming more proactive, evidence-led and closely connected to long-term estate planning.
The coming years will bring changes affecting public protection, building safety, energy performance and the way organisations manage building information.
Not every proposed policy has become a legal requirement. However, facilities managers should follow developing regulations closely and begin preparing their estates before new deadlines arrive.
Here are some of the most important areas to watch.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly known as Martyn’s Law, received Royal Assent in April 2025.
The legislation is intended to improve preparedness at qualifying publicly accessible premises and events. Its requirements will not apply to every workplace, and the duties will vary according to the type and capacity of the premises.
The framework includes two main categories:
These generally include qualifying public premises where it is reasonable to expect between 200 and 799 people to be present.
Those responsible will need to have appropriate procedures for responding to a terrorist attack. This may include processes for:
Additional duties will apply to certain qualifying premises and events where 800 or more people may be present.
These organisations will face more extensive requirements relating to vulnerability, protective measures and documented preparedness.
The Security Industry Authority has been appointed as the regulator. The Act includes an implementation period before its requirements become enforceable, giving organisations time to understand whether they are in scope and prepare accordingly.
Facilities managers can begin by:
Security procedures should complement existing emergency arrangements rather than creating conflicts with fire evacuation or accessibility requirements.
The Building Safety Act has increased expectations around accountability and the quality of building information.
For higher-risk buildings, the Golden Thread requires accurate, accessible and up-to-date information to be maintained throughout the building’s lifecycle.
This direction is also influencing the wider property sector. Building owners and facilities managers are increasingly expected to know:
Facilities teams should review whether their present systems can provide a reliable audit trail.
Paper certificates, individual spreadsheets and documents held by separate contractors may make it difficult to demonstrate effective control.
Useful improvements could include:
The goal is not simply to collect more documents. It is to make building information accurate, usable and connected to decisions.
Fire-safety expectations continue to develop, particularly in residential buildings and properties occupied by people who may require assistance.
Facilities managers should follow official guidance concerning evacuation planning, vulnerable occupants and fire-safety information.
Good preparation includes:
Any personal evacuation arrangements must be practical, building-specific and developed with the people affected.
Facilities teams should avoid waiting for a new requirement before reviewing whether their present emergency plans work for everyone using the building.
Energy efficiency will remain a major concern for owners and managers of commercial property.
Current Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards generally restrict the letting of non-domestic properties in England and Wales with an EPC rating below E, unless a valid exemption applies.
The government has also been consulting on stronger future requirements for privately rented non-domestic buildings, including a proposed trajectory towards EPC B by 2030.
This future target should be treated as a developing policy area rather than an assumption that every building is already legally required to achieve EPC B by 2030.
Facilities and property teams should continue monitoring official announcements and begin assessing the condition of their estates.
Early planning may include:
Waiting until a minimum standard changes may leave too little time to plan, obtain approval and complete major works.
The government has been considering reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings framework.
Potential changes are intended to make certificates more useful and better suited to the transition towards lower-carbon buildings. The final form and implementation timetable of these reforms should be checked against official government publications.
For facilities managers, a broader energy-performance framework could place greater emphasis on subjects such as:
Organisations should therefore avoid treating an EPC as the only measure of building performance.
Metering, operational data, maintenance condition and occupant behaviour can all influence how efficiently a property performs in practice.
Improving a building from a low EPC rating to a substantially higher level may require more than replacing light fittings.
Depending on the property, improvements could involve:
These projects affect capital budgets, maintenance plans, tenant arrangements and business continuity.
Facilities teams should work with property, finance, sustainability and operational colleagues to develop a long-term estate strategy.
A phased plan is generally more manageable than a sudden programme of emergency upgrades.
Future changes to product, chemical and environmental regulations may also affect building maintenance.
Restrictions or changes involving chemicals, refrigerants, coatings and construction products can influence:
Facilities managers should maintain accurate information about the products and substances used across their estates.
Before specifying a replacement product, teams should check that it is suitable, legally compliant and compatible with the existing system.
Working closely with competent suppliers and technical specialists will become increasingly important as requirements change.
New rules cannot be managed through paperwork alone.
Organisations need employees and contractors who understand the relevant systems and can demonstrate that they are competent to perform their work.
Facilities managers should review:
Lowest price should not be the only consideration when appointing a safety-critical contractor.
Poor-quality work can lead to repeated defects, operational disruption and significant legal or financial exposure.
Organisations do not need to respond to every possible regulatory development at once.
A sensible starting plan is to:
Identify which buildings, systems and forthcoming rules could affect the organisation.
Focus first on life-safety risks, overdue actions and properties likely to require substantial investment.
Include compliance and energy improvements within medium and long-term capital plans.
Improve asset information, inspection records and decision-making evidence.
Make sure employees understand their responsibilities and emergency procedures.
Follow official government, regulator and industry guidance rather than relying on assumptions about future deadlines.
Facilities management is no longer limited to arranging repairs after something goes wrong.
An effective FM strategy should connect daily maintenance with risk management, building information, regulatory preparation and long-term investment.
Our team can help organisations:
Preparing early can reduce disruption, improve budget control and help organisations make better-informed decisions about their buildings.
Speak to The FM Company about creating a safer, better organised and future-ready facilities management programme.
This article reflects the regulatory position and announced policy direction at the time of writing. Some future requirements remain subject to implementation decisions, secondary legislation or further government guidance. It should not be treated as legal advice.
