MHCLG to take control of Building Safety Regulator, pledging ‘fast track’ process and resources to tackle delays

The government has announced a major shake-up of the Building Safety Regulator amid mounting concern over delays to approval of high-rise residential schemes.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced this morning it is setting up a new board to take over the functions of the BSR from the Health & Safety Executive.

Andy Roe, former commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, will chair the board, which will initially be a ‘shadow board’ until the new regulator is established as an executive agency under MHCLG.

Another firefighter chief, Charlie Pugsley, currently deputy commissioner at LFB, will become the chief executive of the new-look BSR. MHCLG said the reforms will pave the way for the creation of a single construction regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

MHCLG also announced today it will introduce a new “fast-track process” to speed up approvals through the new building safety system. Concern has been mounting in the sector about delays to approval of high-rise blocks, particularly at the pre-construction ‘gateway 2’ check stage under the Building Safety Act.

The department said its new approach “will bring building inspector and engineer capacity directly into the BSR to enhance the processing and review of existing newbuild cases and remediation decisions”.

More than 100 new staff members will be added to the BSR workforce, which MHCLG said will help reduce delays.

Alex Norris, building safety minister, said:  “The establishment of the Building Safety Regulator has been fundamental to centralising safety in the construction process and it’s time to take the next steps to build on that precedent and create a system that works for the sector whilst keeping residents and their safety at the heart of the process.  

 “That’s why we’re announcing a package of reforms to the BSR today to enhance operations, reduce delays, and unlock the homes this country desperately needs.”

Sarah Newton, chair of the HSE, admitted setting up an entirely new regulator has been “complex”  but said huge progress has been made in a short space of time.

She said: “It was always an option that once the new regulator was established that it would move out of HSE to enable the government to implement the Grenfell Public Inquiry recommendations and we will work hard to enable the smooth transition to the next stage.”  

In recent weeks pressure has been growing on the government to tackle the backlog of schemes on hold due at gateway 2. Data from consultancy Cast last week revealed barely 10% of gateway 2 submissions for new builds have been approved.

The House of Lords industry and regulators committee also last week opened an inquiry into the delays.