FPA raises building safety concerns over fibre cabling proposals

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsPassiveSafety

Building safety concerns in telecoms works

The Fire Protection Association (FPA) has warned that relaxing oversight of telecommunications work could increase risks to life and weaken fire compartmentation where penetrations through fire-resisting construction are poorly managed.

In its response to the government consultation Improving Proportionality and Building Safety Outcomes in Building Control: Telecommunications work, the FPA said concerns from its membership centred on penetrations that are inadequately reinstated after work is completed.

The consultation response states: “building control procedural requirements and the drilling of holes for anything, including fibre-optic cabling, are two separate issues.

“The procedural requirements ought to guarantee the fire safety protection measures are compliant.

“If they do not then they are the wrong requirements.”

The FPA said even minor works can create serious risks when fire-resisting elements are breached.

It warned: “There is the potential for the spread of fire or smoke through deficient fire protected structure which may lead to a Risk of Death or Serious Injury.”

The response added that FPA members “generally view the risk from uncontrolled drilling and inadequate fire-stopping as high.”

Records and oversight

The FPA said accurate and current as-built drawings are often not readily available in many buildings.

It stated: “In many buildings, accurate and up-to-date ‘as-built’ drawings are not readily available, making it difficult for installers or Responsible Persons to confirm whether a wall is fire-resisting or to verify its original level of protection”.

The response said this uncertainty can leave breaches inadequately sealed and undetected for long periods.

It also warned that reducing notification or approval requirements could make unsafe works invisible to enforcing authorities.

The response states: “There is a very clear risk of works being permitted under dispensations that allow them to become invisible to enforcing authorities,”

It said this could remove the requirement to consult Fire and Rescue Authorities on material changes to occupied premises.

FPA opposes blanket dispensation

Drawing on lessons cited in its response, the FPA referred to the 2009 Lakanal House fire and said the systematic deconstruction of fire resistance over time and across multiple refurbishments led to horizontal and vertical fire and smoke spread.

Survey feedback from members strongly opposed any blanket dispensation for fibre-optic cabling works.

The response reported that “most felt it would not be appropriate to reduce or remove building control procedures for drilling holes for fibre-optic cabling, even with assurances that safety would be maintained”, and said many emphasised that “any penetration through fire-resisting barriers requires proper controls, documentation, and oversight.”

The FPA said any proportionate approach should rely on competence, assurance and traceability, including tested and approved fire-stopping products, clear records of work and effective handover information for building owners and accountable persons.

It concluded that weakening procedural safeguards without robust alternative controls would be unjustified and warned: “It is not reasonable to presume, without reliable evidence, that work affecting fire protection will be done to an appropriate standard.”

England remediation plan targets faster higher-risk building safety works

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Remediation plan targets faster decisions

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has introduced an external remediation improvement plan to reduce delays to higher-risk building safety works across England.

BSR said the plan includes a dedicated external remediation multidisciplinary team, lower average caseloads for regulatory leads and wider use of approval with requirements where appropriate.

The regulator said it will recruit more staff to reduce individual caseloads from an average of 25 to around 10.

The new multidisciplinary team will be supported by external remediation account managers handling applicant communications and portfolio concerns.

BSR also plans to pilot the use of building control professionals from different classes to support case officers and regulatory leads.

A new consistency process will be introduced to resolve technical disputes more quickly.

The regulator is also moving towards more direct engagement with applicants, including initial meetings for more complex projects.

BSR said it will publish a clear external remediation prioritisation structure and is working on digital visibility changes so applicants can track progress after submission.

Older cases and application quality

BSR said around 40% of ongoing external remediation applications rely on government funding, and many older complex cases are taking longer to reach decisions.

The regulator said internal resource constraints and a high volume of older non-compliant industry submissions are driving the current caseload.

Incomplete applications are delaying decisions where required technical information or legal documentation is missing.

Examples include limited evidence of fire-resistant properties for replacement cladding and related materials, missing structural loading calculations and incomplete demonstration of thermal performance.

Delays are also linked to incomplete design information, unsupported non-worsening claims and poorly organised documents.

Ambiguity over retained combustibles is also described as a frequent cause of failure.

BSR said it has published initial guidance for external remediation work on existing higher-risk buildings and will issue more feedback, resources and support in the coming months.

The regulator is also planning better data sharing with organisations managing government funds, including Homes England.

By December 2026, BSR is aiming to reduce average decision times for remediation applications to less than 12 weeks and achieve approval rates above 65%.

Lord Roe, BSR Board Chair, said: “We continue to accelerate our decision-making for new build applications, speeding up approvals for new build and external remediation projects and increasing the supply of safe new and existing homes through the recent changes we have made to our processes.

“We recognise current determination times for remediation cases are falling short of statutory targets.

“This plan represents a targeted and achievable package of measures to reset the system and clear older legacy remediation cases.

“By doing so and then focussing on more recent applications, we can ensure high-rise residents see essential safety improvements they deserve without unnecessary or further delays.”

Charlie Pugsley, Acting CEO of BSR, added: “As we enter an important new chapter as a standalone regulator, our focus is on strengthening safety, rebuilding trust and supportively collaborating with industry.

“Collectively these measures will ensure current and future remediation applications can proceed as smoothly and quickly as possible.

“By launching a dedicated multidisciplinary team and introducing account managers, we are dramatically increasing our capacity to make faster decisions.

“Speed cannot come at the cost of safety.

“We will also publish further specific guidance and support to help industry submit higher-quality applications, ensuring thousands of residents can feel safe, and are safe in their high-rise homes.”

New £70m building safety package backs inspectors and fire engineers

by Breaking NewsConstructionSafety

Building safety funding announced for key professions

New £70 million funding has been announced to address shortages in building safety professions and support the delivery of 1.5 million homes.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said on 26 March 2026 that the three-year programme will increase the number of Registered Building Inspectors by up to 700 and expand fire engineering education.

The funding is split between Building Control, which will receive £55 million, and Fire Engineering, which will receive £15 million.

It is intended to increase the number of Registered Building Inspectors, including those in Class 3H who can inspect High-Risk Buildings.

The programme will also increase the number of Fire Engineers and the availability of Fire Engineering education.

How the funding will be used

Funding for Building Control will support local authorities’ building control teams in England to recruit new Registered Building Inspectors and train them to the required Class 2 standard.

It will also fund the upskilling of existing Registered Building Inspectors, with many training to the standard needed to inspect High-Risk Buildings in Class 3H.

Additional funding will support the training of new entrants in Registered Building Control Approvers and local authorities.

For Fire Engineering, the funding will develop higher education provision through postgraduate bursaries, along with research and academic development.

The mechanisms for applying for the funds are currently under development and more information will be published in the coming months.

Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy Samantha Dixon said: “We’re boosting the building safety workforce to get more skilled building inspectors and fire engineers into the system quickly to keep people safe and unlock the new homes this country needs.

“This is a vital step in building 1.5 million safe homes and ensuring we continue to deliver on lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.”

The government said the programme responds to recommendations from the House of Lords regulatory committee, along with concerns raised by the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel, responses to the Building Control Independent Panel’s call for evidence and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Consultation outlines exemption route for some fire door approvals in England and Wales

by Featured NewsFire DoorsPassiveSafety

Exemption proposal covers fire door work

Fire door installation and maintenance work in England and Wales could be allowed to bypass formal approval from building control bodies under proposals from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

Inside Housing reported that the BSR has proposed a self-certification scheme for fire door work in both high-risk and lower-risk buildings.

The change would allow landlords to show that safety work complies with building regulations without going through the BSR gateway process.

The regulator said this would save “significant time and cost for those carrying out this type of work” and keep standards in place while improving transparency.

Last autumn, Lord Roe, chair of the BSR, told Inside Housing that minor work should be removed from the regulator’s oversight.

In January, the government launched a consultation on removing work linked to phone masts and fibre optic cables from the regulator’s scope after it was deemed lower risk.

Exemption sits within wider self-certification review

Inside Housing reported that the proposed changes to fire doors form part of a wider BSR review of self-certification.

Building work can already be self-certified and avoid checks from building inspectors if installers belong to a competent person scheme.

The BSR is reviewing the conditions of authorisation, a set of rules drawn up in 2016 that all competent person schemes must follow.

Its call for evidence covers governance and accountability, along with competence and training standards.

It also covers data reporting and enforcement.

In a statement published alongside the survey, the BSR said recent reviews had shown “persistent weaknesses” in the oversight of groups running the self-certification system.

The regulator also said it will consider how lessons from government retrofit schemes examined in the National Audit Office report from last autumn could be reflected in the conditions of authorisation.

It also referred to findings from the Competition and Markets Authority in 2023 on weak consumer understanding in the green heating and insulation sector.

Inside Housing reported that the regulator also referred to calls from the National Home Improvement Council last summer for stronger safeguards.

Consultation runs for three months

The consultation opened last Friday and will run for three months.

Government recommendations are expected before the end of the year.

Inside Housing also reported that the sector is still waiting for a formal plan to speed up remediation decisions.

Figures published this month showed decision times on these schemes had nearly halved to around 18 weeks for the most recent applications from late 2025 and early 2026.

A backlog remains.

BSR update shows 108 new build decisions over 12 weeks to 25 February

by Building ManagementConstructionFeatured NewsPassiveSafety

BSR Gateway 2 update and reporting changes

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has set out planned changes to how it reports progress on Gateway 2 applications, alongside updated volumes for decisions, invalidations and live cases in the 12-week rolling period to 25 February 2026.

The BSR said it has changed how it represents application progress by removing invalid applications from progress percentages, describing invalid applications as those lacking basic critical safety information and normally invalidated within around one week.

Percentages of withdrawn, rejections and approvals are now shown as a proportion of the total number of applications that passed validation.

Closed applications across all categories totalled 639 in the past 12 weeks, including 273 invalidations.

The number of live applications of all categories was reported as 1,212.

Across all Gateway 2 categories, 65% of closed applications were related to London cases, with 404 made in the capital over the past 12 weeks.

Remediation improvement plan due to be announced

A remediation improvement plan is set to be formally announced and introduced over the coming weeks.

The plan is intended to improve the efficiency, quality and timeliness of applications for remediation projects.

It will focus on strengthening BSR resource capacity, improving internal processes and supporting industry to submit higher quality applications.

The update reported 86 remediation decisions made since December 2025, including 41 in London, and 77 new cases received.

There were 279 live remediation cases being processed, representing 24,282 units.

The BSR said late 2025 and early 2026 remediation applications are averaging around 18 weeks, with complex older remediation cases taking longer for decisions.

It said it will publish specific remediation guidance in the coming weeks, alongside improved feedback and support for applicants.

New build decisions, legacy cases and Innovation Unit activity

Gateway 2 new build applications in the 12-week rolling period to 25 February recorded 108 decisions, with 82 new applications received.

New build applications representing 15,178 residential units were received, with decisions on 23,197 units issued, including 10,514 approvals.

There were 31,191 units in live cases.

Legacy cases reduced from 60 at the start of December to three normal applications, with a separate cohort of 18 applications with significant technical issues moved into a complex case category.

The BSR said approval rates of legacy cases continue to be 53%.

The BSR Innovation Unit (IU) made 27 decisions in the past 12 weeks, including 10 in London, and is currently managing 123 live new build applications representing 26,224 units, with 69 of those in the capital.

Eleven applications have been approved with a median approval time of 18 weeks.

For post-validation applications, 33% are approved and 33% rejected, with the remainder under active account management.

Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Building Safety Regulator, said: “We continue to see improvements to the numbers of decisions being made for new build applications, and the numbers of safe homes being made available for the future.

“We also continue to engage even more closely with applicants to help improve the quality of those applications and that continues to see tangible results that will make a real difference.

“However, we recognise that current determination times are falling short of our targets for remediation.

“Our Remediation improvement plan, which will be formally announced and rolled out operationally over the coming weeks, will represent a targeted package of focussed measures to reset the system.

“But speed can never come at the cost of safety, whether that be for new build or existing homes.

“Our goal continues to be to ensure that industry can construct safe buildings, and that residents can see the essential safety improvements they deserve without unnecessary delays.”

The update also described a batching pilot for bundling new build and remediation applications for accelerated assessment, stating that initial data indicates faster processing times than previous methods and that the model remains under evaluation.

MHCLG consults on fire protection rules for telecoms work in buildings

by ConstructionFeatured NewsPassiveSafety

MHCLG: Fire protection and building control dispensations

A government consultation proposes streamlined building control procedures for certain telecommunications work while retaining fire protection requirements.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has opened a consultation on dispensations covering drilling holes through internal fire-resisting walls for fibre optic cabling and work to mobile communications masts.

The proposals focus on work to existing buildings, including existing higher-risk buildings, and also seek views on approval routes for fibre optic work in buildings outside the higher-risk regime.

The consultation document describes the higher-risk building control regime introduced in October 2023 and defines higher-risk buildings as buildings containing at least 2 residential units, care homes and hospitals that meet the 18 metre or seven storey height threshold.

How the higher-risk process would change

The consultation outlines that the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is the sole building control authority for higher-risk building work in England.

For fibre optic cabling in existing higher-risk buildings, the proposal is to dispense with procedural requirements linked to gateway two, requirements during construction and gateway three, so work could proceed without applications to, or approval from, the BSR.

A condition under consideration is written notification to the BSR once the work is completed, alongside retaining a handover of accessible digital information covering how the work complies with parts B, F, L and O of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations 2010.

For fibre optic cabling in existing buildings outside the higher-risk regime, the proposal is to dispense with procedural requirements related to giving a building control notice or submitting full plans, with a completion notification to the relevant building control authority also under consideration.

For mobile communications masts on existing higher-risk buildings, the proposal is to dispense with gateway two and construction-stage procedural requirements, while retaining gateway three checks including the need to apply for, and obtain, a completion certificate from the BSR.

Across the proposals, conditions under consideration include limits on hole size, fire-stopping requirements, product safety standards, time limits between start and completion and requirements for relevant qualifications, with the Principal Contractor identified as the party responsible for ensuring conditions are met.

Consultation dates and response route

The consultation runs from 27 January to 24 March 2026 and invites evidence and views on scope, conditions, enforcement and whether competent person schemes could be appropriate in future for the types of work covered.

Responses can be submitted via an online survey or by emailing buildingregulationsconsultation@communities.gov.uk, with respondents asked to confirm whether they are replying as an individual or on behalf of an organisation and to include contact details.

Building Safety Regulator becomes standalone body in Gateway 2 reform milestone

by ConstructionFeatured NewsHealth and SafetySafety

Gateway 2 framework and transition to standalone status

The Building Safety Regulator officially became a standalone organisation on 27 January 2026, marking a structural shift in the delivery of Gateway 2 building control oversight.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR), previously part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), transitioned to an arm’s-length public body under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, paving the way for the creation of a single construction regulator as recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

The regulator was established in 2021 following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, with full statutory powers introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022.

The move formalises a broader mandate that extends beyond high-rise buildings to include responsibility for safety standards across all buildings in England.

The transition follows what BSR described as an operational reset in its role as the building control authority for higher-risk buildings, supported by the introduction of its Innovation Unit and new efficiency measures.

These changes were positioned as part of efforts to improve operational delivery, target regulatory guidance and support competence development across the construction sector.

Regulatory mission, leadership and sector response

Lord Roe, Chair of BSR, said: “Today is a decisive and important step in strengthening building safety and a milestone that marks our evolution into a standalone regulator.

“While the creation of BSR in 2021 was a watershed moment, today is about looking forward to a single construction regulator that brings coherence to a once-fragmented system.

“We will know we are successful when residents acknowledge we have made the built environment safer.

“Today is about continuing to support homes being built safely while fulfilling our primary mission: ensuring we are all building better and living safer, together.”

Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of BSR, said: “Today is a significant new chapter for BSR, with a clear signal that while we must continue to focus on improving our operational delivery for both new build homes and occupied HRBs, our mandate extends far beyond high-rise oversight to a broader responsibility for safety and standards across buildings in England.

“By driving professional competence and refining regulatory guidance, we can ensure a holistic approach that spans from initial design through to lifelong building management.

“Our commitment to robust enforcement and cultural transformation serves a single, vital purpose in 2026 and beyond – restoring resident confidence and trust in the built environment.”

Samantha Dixon, Building Safety Minister, said: “Everyone deserves to live in a safe home and we are determined to deliver lasting change to make this a reality.

“The Building Safety Regulator sits at the heart of this mission, and today launching a new body is an important step in realising sector wide reform.

“I look forward to working with the new leadership team on our journey towards the Single Construction Regulator.”

Mark Reynolds, Executive Chair of Mace Group and Chair of the Construction Leadership Council, said: “Over the last twelve months we’ve seen a very tangible shift in how BSR has worked with the Construction Leadership Council and developers across the country, and the result has been a more effective process, enabling safer buildings to be commissioned and delivered faster.

“The UK needs confidence that the construction industry, the regulator and government are all working together to deliver new and safe housing at scale – and I believe this moment marks a major step forward on that journey.

“As an independent body and working under the leadership of Charlie and Andy I have no doubt we’ll see more positive progress during 2026.”

The transition formalises BSR’s independence and establishes its governance framework as the regulator works toward the development of a single construction regulator model.

Regulatory role and standalone status

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) outlined the regulatory framework and operational changes following the transition to standalone status.

The HSE described the Building Safety Regulator as the national regulator responsible for improving the safety and standards of all buildings in England, established in 2021 following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, with full statutory powers introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022.

From 27 January 2026, BSR operates as a stand-alone executive non-departmental public body sponsored by MHCLG, with governance and accountability formalised while day-to-day regulatory activity continues.

The framework includes responsibility for regulating higher-risk residential buildings over 18 metres or seven storeys across design, construction and occupation through a three-stage gateway approval process.

BSR also acts as the building control authority for all higher-risk buildings, including hospitals and care homes, and oversees the performance of local authority and private sector building control bodies.

Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Building Safety Regulator, said: “This month marks a significant new chapter for BSR as a standalone body, with the knowledge that our new processes are driving improvements – evidenced by the fact we recently made the most decisions in our operating history.

“We are determined to build on this momentum by launching a Remediation Improvement Plan to tackle complex remediation cases and streamline resources.

“We will also be engaging even more closely with applicants to help improve the quality of new build HRB applications.

“By driving these improvements, we can ensure we keep essential construction projects being built, while upholding the critical safety standards that protect residents in both new and existing homes.”

Gateway 2 decisions and application volumes

The Building Safety Regulator published new building control approval data covering November 2025 to January 2026.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) recorded 698 Gateway 2 decisions across all application types in the 12 weeks to 24 January 2026.

Live applications across all categories totalled 1,159.

The final quarter of 2025 recorded 673 decisions by 31 December, compared with just over 200 in early 2025.

Across all Gateway 2 categories, 68% of decisions related to London cases, totalling 476 decisions in the capital since November.

In the 12 weeks to 24 January, 97 Gateway 2 new build applications received decisions and 99 new build applications were submitted.

New build applications represented 19,600 residential units.

Decisions were issued for 19,914 units, including 11,962 approvals.

Live cases represented 37,065 residential units.

Legacy, remediation and Innovation Unit performance

The update set out volumes and decision outcomes for legacy applications, remediation cases and the BSR Innovation Unit alongside new build activity.

Since November, 52 decisions were made on outstanding legacy cases inherited under the previous model, with 29 in London.

The approval rate for historic applications viable to receive a decision reached 87%.

The remaining 29 complex legacy cases were under assessment to determine whether continued resources were warranted or whether rejection and resubmission would be required.

Since 3 November 2025, 75 remediation decisions were issued and 73 new remediation cases were received.

Live remediation cases totalled 286, representing 24,949 units.

A batching pilot delivered 12 decisions, with a Remediation Improvement Plan scheduled to launch in the coming weeks to address application quality and streamline internal resources.

In the past 12 weeks, the BSR Innovation Unit (IU) recorded 39 decisions, with 27 in London.

The IU managed 111 live new build applications representing 25,226 units, including 61 in the capital.

Of cases progressing beyond validation, 30% were approved and 41% were rejected.

Initial validation failure rates reached 56%, linked to missing basic design information.

Industry reaction on Gateway 2 evidence and digital records

Rob Norton, UK Director at PlanRadar, said: “The BSR becoming a standalone body corporate is the final nail in the coffin for ‘analogue’ site management.

“For years, the industry has treated documentation as a post-script, something to be tidied up at the end of a project.

“Those days are over.

“An independent regulator, equipped with its own board and a dedicated enforcement mandate, isn’t going to accept a ring-binder full of blurred photos and missing signatures as proof of safety.

“The real challenge for Gateway 2 and 3 isn’t the regulations themselves, it’s the evidence.

“We are currently seeing a massive disconnect between on-site reality and regulatory reporting, which is the single biggest factor behind the Gateway delays currently stalling UK construction.

“If the BSR is to succeed in clearing these backlogs as an independent entity, it requires high-quality, tamper-proof digital data.

“Without a robust ‘Golden Thread,’ developers are essentially playing Russian Roulette with their completion certificates.

“This independence should be a wake-up call.

“The BSR now has the autonomy to set a higher bar for digital competence.

“We can’t expect to build the next generation of high-rise homes using the record-keeping standards of the 1990s.

“It’s time for the industry to stop viewing digital tools as an ‘extra’ and start seeing them as the only way to stay on the right side of an empowered regulator.”

Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist at BCIS, said: “Data published by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) in the past few months has spoken for itself.

“While more building control approval decisions are being made thanks to the new Innovation Unit, the speed of decision-making, specifically for remediation applications, must improve.

“Establishing the BSR as an independent organisation is certainly an important step toward unifying and simplifying how construction is regulated.

“It shows the industry is being listened to in the same way the BSR’s process adaptations did last year.

“That said, the BSR cannot afford to take its foot off the gas.

“Its new caseload is growing and construction’s residential market particularly would benefit from a slicker regulatory system sooner rather than later.

“Both private and public sector housing output has slowed and fewer approval holdups would go a long way to speed up project starts and the economic value they can deliver.”

Building Safety Regulator reports rising Gateway 2 approvals across high-rise projects

by ConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Record Gateway 2 decisions to 24 November

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has reported a record 272 Gateway 2 building control decisions to 24 November 2025 for new high-rise residential buildings, with overall determinations now totalling 578 since 31 August.

According to BSR, Gateway 2 determinations have continued to rise across all application types under its pilot operational processes.

The regulator reported an approval rate of 73%, with a large proportion of these decisions made through the recently enhanced approval with requirements route.

BSR stated that 76% of all Gateway 2 decisions to 24 November related to London cases, equating to 206 determinations in the latest update period.

Since 31 August, 409 Gateway 2 decisions have been made for London projects, with 85% of these utilising the approval with requirements pathway.

Historic applications, live cases and unit numbers

BSR confirmed that 40 of 103 historic new build applications submitted under the previous model had been resolved between 31 August and 24 November.

Of these 40 decisions, 20 related to London cases.

The regulator said a minimum of 9 further previous model applications have been assessed as ready to move through the approval with requirements route, subject to final checks and applicant agreement.

The remaining 54 historic applications are a key focus for BSR through to the end of the year.

Face-to-face meetings with regulatory partners are planned during December to finalise the majority of these outstanding cases.

Up to 24 November, BSR reported that new build applications representing 16,313 residential units had been received under Gateway 2.

Over the same period, approvals representing 11,138 units had been issued.

The regulator stated that 36,023 residential units are currently covered within 167 live Gateway 2 cases.

Innovation Unit and batching process in operation

BSR’s latest update highlighted the role of its Innovation Unit (IU) in managing high-rise residential applications.

The IU, described as a dedicated team of registered building inspectors and technical engineers, is currently handling 73 live new build applications representing 17,076 residential units.

According to BSR, the IU is delivering shorter processing times by validating applications rapidly and rejecting incomplete submissions so that applicants can address issues and resubmit.

The regulator reported that the early cohort of IU-managed applications is now being expedited to resolve technical issues, with first approvals from this route expected during December.

BSR is also implementing a batching process, launched in September, which groups applications for assessment by specialised engineering services suppliers.

Mixed-category bundles covering 217 new build and remediation cases have been dispatched under this pilot process.

The organisation said bundles continue to be issued weekly, based on supplier capacity.

BSR is developing a focused plan to apply lessons from these recent processes to remediation cases in the new year.

BSR outlook for Gateway 2 operations

BSR stated that its Operational Team is directly engaging with applicants and regulatory partners while working through individual blockers to keep cases moving.

The regulator linked this approach to the rate at which historic applications are now being closed.

Charlie Pugsley, Chief Executive Officer of the Building Safety Regulator, said: “The immediate, positive results we saw from our pilot operational changes have established a strong foundation for continued success.

“We are on track to continue to clear the majority historic cases by the end of December by engaging with applicants and our regulatory partners, seeing the benefits of our new batching system, and building upon the initial hard work of the Innovation Unit.

“Across BSR there is a confidence that projected milestones remain achievable, but rightly we remain cautiously optimistic.

“We are fully committed to supporting the pace of essential construction while upholding the essential safety standards that keep people safe in new and also existing homes.”

What the latest Gateway 2 data means for built environment projects

The latest Gateway 2 figures from BSR provide new detail on how high-rise residential building control applications are moving through the new regime.

Architects, fire engineering consultants and building services engineers working on high-rise residential projects can see that 73% of Gateway 2 determinations have resulted in approval, often through the approval with requirements route, which sets a clear pattern for how compliant submissions are being handled.

For developers, facility managers and risk assessors, BSR’s focus on resolving the remaining 54 historic applications, supported by face-to-face meetings with regulatory partners in December, indicates how historic cases may be brought into line with current expectations on structure and evidence.

The Innovation Unit’s management of 73 live applications representing 17,076 units, combined with rapid validation and rejection of incomplete submissions, sets practical expectations for the quality and completeness required at submission stage.

System installers and fire-protection contractors engaged in high-rise residential schemes can relate the reported unit and case volumes – including 36,023 units in 167 live cases – to likely sequencing of design, installation and inspection activity under the Gateway 2 process.

The batching of 217 new build and remediation cases for external engineering assessment shows how capacity is being organised around specialist review, which may affect how technical information is prepared and presented in complex projects.

Are private firms compromising building control in England?

by Building ManagementConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Panel will examine commercial conflicts in building control

The Building Control Independent Panel (BCIP) has been established to assess conflicts of interest and capacity concerns in the building control system in England, as reported by the Building Control Independent Panel.

The panel will examine whether those with commercial interests should be allowed to carry out building control functions and whether all such functions should instead be centralised under a national authority.

These questions were raised in the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and form the basis of the panel’s Terms of Reference.

Working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and stakeholders, the BCIP will collect evidence on the persistence and effect of conflicts of interest and workforce limitations in both private and local authority building control services.

The panel will also evaluate potential changes that could limit or mitigate these issues, including the use of additional oversight or regulatory tools.

Evidence gathering will extend beyond Grenfell recommendations

The Building Control Independent Panel stated that its review will extend further than the questions posed by the Grenfell Inquiry.

It will examine different decision-making models for building control, using a risk-based approach that considers the type of building and scale of work involved.

The panel will evaluate what levels of inspection, supervision and enforcement are achievable and necessary across building types and timescales.

It will also review existing legislative powers in the Building Safety Act 2022, Building Act 1984 and related regulations before determining whether new legislation may be required.

The panel has also been tasked with considering whether safeguards could enable customer choice to continue in lower-risk buildings while improving reliability and public confidence.

The panel confirmed it would provide advice on how any required system transitions could be managed.

Wider policy aims and housing targets will be considered

The BCIP will align its review with the government’s broader building safety and housing policy goals.

The panel said it will assess how the building control system can help the government meet its aim to deliver 1.5 million new safe homes during this Parliament and beyond.

It will evaluate how proposals for a Single Construction Regulator and a Chief Construction Adviser could support a reformed building control function.

It will also explore how building control could be delivered collaboratively across combined local authorities in support of England’s devolution agenda, as outlined in the English Devolution White Paper.

According to the panel, opportunities for efficiency through data, digitisation and shared services will be examined in relation to oversight by local authorities and the BSR.

Key interdependencies and workforce issues under review

The panel will consider interdependencies with other building safety policy priorities already identified by MHCLG and the BSR.

It will examine building control workforce competence and capacity, performance concerns across both local authority and private sector providers, and the effectiveness of current regulatory protections.

The review will also assess the impact of any new requirements on current training and recruitment systems.

Additional interdependencies include proposed updates to the technical Parts of the Building Regulations, how warranty schemes relate to control systems, and whether reforms to the 2010 Building Regulations and Charges Regulations are needed.

Information sharing between building control bodies and the BSR or government will be reviewed as part of wider data reform.

Membership, working model and reporting schedule set

Dame Judith Hackitt has been appointed Chair of the BCIP.

Panel members include the Rt Hon Nick Raynsford, Dr David Snowball, Elaine Bailey and Ken Rivers.

The group is supported by a Secretariat staffed by MHCLG and advised by policy and delivery teams from both MHCLG and the Building Safety Regulator.

The panel intends to publish an initial assessment in June 2025 and seek further evidence from stakeholders before issuing final recommendations later in the year.

The Terms of Engagement confirm the panel is expected to meet for a minimum of five sessions and dedicate at least 60 hours to the process, with an option to extend to 90 hours after a mid-point review.

All members have completed due diligence checks and are required to declare new conflicts of interest during their appointment.

The Chair will oversee strategic direction, engagement with the sector and media, and be responsible for final outputs and recommendations to ministers.

Building control panel launched to assess oversight and conflict risks: Summary

The Building Control Independent Panel has been formed to advise the UK Government on future oversight of building control in England.

The panel will consider whether commercial involvement should continue in building control services.

It will also assess the potential role of a national authority in delivering building control functions.

The panel will collect evidence on conflicts of interest and workforce capacity issues.

It will consider risks, proportionality and delivery timescales across building types.

The group will evaluate current legal powers and determine if new legislation is needed.

It will align with housing delivery targets and other policy reforms including devolution.

The panel will assess the feasibility of customer choice alongside greater oversight.

It will investigate performance issues across public and private sector building control.

It will review training, data, technical standards, and warranty scheme relationships.

The panel is chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt and supported by MHCLG.

An initial assessment will be published in June 2025.