Firm says ‘more evidence needed’ that regulator is making decisions in line with 12 weeks aim as contractor’s income tops £1bn for first time
McLaren has said the amount of time it takes for its schemes waiting to get gateway 2 sign-off is coming down – but added it is still some way short of the regulator’s aim of 12 weeks.
The firm is one of many that has seen jobs stalled by the regulations which were introduced in October 2023.
Chief executive Paul Heather said its jobs were typically taking 20-something weeks to get the gateway 2 green light but added: “We are seeing a speeding up across the board. It’s coming in but ideally we’d like it to be 12 weeks.”
Asked about comments made last week by Building Safety Regulator chair Andy Roe that it was making decisions closer to the 12 weeks benchmark with waiting times of “13,14,15 weeks”, Heather added: “We need to see more evidence [for that]. Give it another six months.”
Group chairman Kevin Taylor added: “The whole process adds a lot of time to every residential development so, yes, we do need to see more evidence [that things are speeding up].”
The pair were speaking as the firm said turnover at the group broke through the £1bn barrier for the first time in its 25 year history with an income of £1.1bn in the year to July 2025, a rise of 19% on last time. Pre-tax profit was up three quarters to £21m.
The firm said its current financial year would see it post a turnover of £1.25bn and its ongoing jobs include a £300m-plus data centre in east London and a new indoor arena in Cardiff worth around £280m.
Heather said the London office market was “still there” but conceded PCSAs were taking longer to complete although he added this was down to funders being more involved in the process and contractors carrying out extra due diligence and getting involved in the design process earlier.
The firm’s London jobs include the £100m Bank overstation scheme for Helical, which is due to complete at the end of the year, and the £200m Tenter House scheme next door to 21 Moorfields with work due to start on site by the end of this year.
McLaren said it had more than 50 active schemes in the UK and the UAE, including 21 in negotiation and 31 live on site.
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