All regulation articles
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CommentThe planning system needs to take viability more seriously
Residential development is unviable in nearly half of England. Government must either reduce build costs by removing regulation or subsidise development from the public purse, argues Paul Smith
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CommentThe Nature Restoration Fund - a viable way to meet environmental obligations?
The government’s plan is intended to allow developers to pay into a fund instead of directly delivering mitigation works. Sophie Henwood looks at its chances of success and finds it is anything but straightforward
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NewsBurnham pledges to ‘put cowboy builders out of business’ with new approved code and trusted payments scheme
NFB hopes move is ”first step to better-digitise industry”
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CommentThe government is right to be more interventionist on planning
Governments have tried assuming every council will plan maturely and conscientiously. But this hasn’t worked so Matthew Pennycook’s more robust approach is needed, writes Paul Smith.
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FeaturesMaking Senze: How sophisticated energy monitoring can cut social housing retrofit costs by 75%
Technology firm Senze has shown live home monitoring can cut retrofit costs by targeting improvements more accurately than flawed EPC assessments, raising questions over the government’s fabric-first funding model for social housing decarbonisation, Thomas Lane reports
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NewsBSR’s new ‘innovation unit’ now handling majority of live new build cases
Shift follows focus on closing legacy cases
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NewsBSR warns of risks around transfer slab construction
Regulator urges building owners to seek professional advice if they are concerned
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FeaturesWill there be an exodus from the ARB register next month after Chris Williamson’s decision not to renew?
The RIBA president’s decision to abandon his architect title in a statement against the ‘absurdity’ of the registration system has heightened debate around what the term really means, and how regulatory oversight of the architectural profession can be reformed
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NewsLandfill tax changes would make projects unviable without boosting recycling, warns NFB
Concern grows over impact of changes designed to boost circular economy
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CommentNow is not the time to panic about low planning approvals
As poor statistics continue to roll in Steve Reed and Matthew Pennycook must hold their nerve, stick to their plan and be patient, argues Paul Smith
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NewsMHCLG appoints former Fosters partner as interim chief construction adviser
Appointment made in response to Grenfell Inquiry recommendation
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FeaturesThe plan to cut the gateway 2 backlog: Key points from Tuesday’s parliamentary hearings on the BSR
This week saw an unusual amount of scrutiny of the Building Safety Regulator, with committees in both the Commons and the Lords examining the issue. Daniel Gayne watched the debates to find out where the troubled institution is headed
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CommentStreamlining gateway 2: time to take a two-tiered approach to building safety approvals?
It cannot have been the intention of the Building Safety Act to create delays to development - it’s time for a fresh approach, argues Bhavini Patel
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NewsMHCLG to take control of Building Safety Regulator, pledging ‘fast track’ process and resources to tackle delays
Former London Fire Brigade commissioner Andy Roe to head up new MHCLG board to take on functions of regulator
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NewsIndustry welcomes government’s Grenfell Inquiry response but warns of more disruption
New ‘super-regulator’ to be introduced from 2028 alongside tighter controls on construction products
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CommentChange of focus, elevation of skills and use of tech: how building control must modernise post-Grenfell
Building control is being overhauled following Grenfell. Denise Chevin looks at what changes need to be made
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FeaturesInvestigation: how are councils assessing the risks of uPVC cladding in low-rise housing after the Barnet fire?
When a fire in 2023 destroyed four terraced houses Barnet Council brought the housing sector’s attention to an overlooked fire safety issue: the use of uPVC cladding in low-rise homes. Have other councils heeded its warning? Olivia Barber launched a Freedom of Information investigation to find out
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NewsBuilding Safety Regulator opens investigation into Dagenham fire
Health and Safety Executive will work with the London Fire Brigade, the police and other parties
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NewsMore than 4,000 building inspectors registered after accreditation deadline passes
Regulator now focused on ensuring building control bodies have sufficient capacity
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NewsBuilding control profession averts next month’s cliff edge after accreditation deadline extended
Inspectors now have until July to prove competence following today’s announcement of 13 week extension for industry in England