Contractor’s boss says learning from previous submissions and regulator’s ‘willingness’ to engage with firms helping speed up approvals
Work on a new student housing tower in Elephant & Castle has begun after the job was given gateway 2 approval in 21 weeks.
Residential tower specialist HG Construction is on site with the Rockingham Street scheme which is called the Roc Club.
The south London project has been designed by Maccreanor Lavington and is being built for CKC Properties and Valpre Capital.
The 24-storey tower will provide 244 student bedrooms, incorporating two staircases and 67sq m of commercial space at ground level.
In a statement, CKC Properties said: “Achieving a 21 week turnaround in an almost unknown environment to the industry is an absolute breathe of fresh air.”
And Gavin Finnan, director at Maccreanor Lavington, added: “The relatively speedy and smooth gateway 2 approval confirms the technical robustness of the design and reflects the close collaboration between client, design team, and contractor.”
HG Construction is also contractor on a co-living scheme in east London which last month was given gateway 2 approval after 13 weeks.
The firm has been given eight gateway 2 approvals this year beginning with a PBSA scheme in Manchester in the spring.
HG Construction chief executive Adam Quinn said: “For us, 2025 was a year of two halves. In the early part of the year, the sector as a whole struggled with the requirements and depth of the submissions, creating a level of uncertainty across the construction industry.
“Thankfully, we achieved our first gateway 2 approval at Medlock Street in Manchester in May, a significant milestone which signalled a turning point for our business.”
He added: “We have welcomed the willingness of the regulator to engage in an open and collaborative process, with a dedicated point of contact providing ongoing communication and feedback.
“Each time we compile a submission we have incorporated previous learnings, ensuring that the information is refined, relevant and aligned with the [Building Safety] Regulator’s guidelines.”
He said continued learning from previous submissions and early engagement with the regulator was also beginning to speed up the process.
“I am confident that 2026 will see many more gateway 2 submissions gaining approval within much shorter time frames,” he added. “This will provide the sector, clients and funders with a much‑needed confidence boost and greater certainty around delivery timescales and the overall feasibility of schemes.”
In the autumn, BSR chair Andy Roe outlined a series of measures which he said would help to drive down the amount of time it takes to get gateway 2 approval closer to its stated aim of 12 weeks.
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