CTBUH UK Chapter discusses Building Safety Act impact on development

Navigating the balance between safety, innovation, and regulation is far from easy. The gateway approval regime has the potential to strengthen building safety standards—but only if it’s implemented with clarity, pragmatism, and a collaborative mindset across industry, government, and enforcement bodies. A few reflections: • 🚧 Safety must never be compromised — but achieving it requires workable systems that don’t stall progress • 🤝 Shared responsibility is key — regulators, developers, contractors, and advisers all have a role to play • 📊 Data, feedback and iteration will be vital to get the process right (and to refine it over time) • 🛠️ Practicality matters — policy, guidance and resourcing must align with on‑the-ground realities We have seen some recent changes at the Regulator to help unblock the backlog but given this impacts not just new builds but existing HRB's and the liquidity of the sector we are only just getting started. Thank you to Josephine Cumbo and the Financial Times for amplifying this conversation. https://lnkd.in/eNjzc6xE #BuildingSafety #Regulation #GatewayApproval #ConstructionPolicy #PublicSafety #Buildmorehomes British Property Federation

UK Construction Week (UKCW), the UK’s biggest event for the built environment, will put legislation and government policy under the microscope when the doors open on three days of panel discussions, skills workshops and networking opportunities. Read more: https://zurl.co/1yHsG #UKCW #UKConstructionWeek #ConstructionIndustry #BuiltEnvironment #ConstructionEvents #ConstructionLeadership #ConstructionPolicy #ConstructionSkills #ConstructionNetworking #UKConstruction

Partners Robert Paterson and Natalie Pilagos discuss the implications of the Building Safety Act 2022 for insolvency practitioners and receivers in real estate and construction. They outline the critical implications of the Building Safety Act 2022, emphasising the need for due diligence and compliance with new safety regulations for higher-risk buildings. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eSHQmGqr. #BSA #BuildingSafetyAct #Insolvency #Construction #DueDiligence

Not long to go! This week our CEO, Damini Sharma, will be in London with Alasdair Mealey of Laing O'Rourke O’Rourke for the Alliance of Construction Networks’ Building Safety event! The Building Safety Act has changed the industry more than almost any other piece of legislation. But has it pushed us forward or is it holding projects back? That’s the question they’ll tackle, digging into what the Act really means for delivery, for people and for the future of safer buildings. On the agenda: • A summary of the Building Safety Act • The impact it is having on the industry • How much more change is likely to come • What more the industry can do to prevent another Grenfell 📍 Society Building Fitzrovia, 55 Whitfield St, London W1T 4AH 🕖 7.45 – 10.15am 🔗 Book your place here: https://lnkd.in/eJ8ZmXjj #BuildingSafety #BSA #BSA2022 #Grenfell

Ever had a project stall because planning permission or building regs got stuck in council limbo? 🏗️ In the UK, I’ve seen delays cost teams months—and six-figure sums. It’s not just paperwork; it’s a silent killer of budgets, timelines, and morale. Here’s why projects get trapped: • Two separate approvals (planning under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, building regs under the Building Act 1984) that rarely move in sync. • Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy obligations that can drag on for months if not tackled early. • New Building Safety Act 2022 rules for higher-risk buildings (18m+/7 storeys+, 2+ dwellings), adding extra scrutiny from the Building Safety Regulator. • Council backlogs that push “8-week” decisions into 12+ weeks—or 18 months for big schemes. But there are fixes: ✅ Pre-app meetings to flag issues early. ✅ Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCAs) for faster building regs approval. ✅ Early Section 106/CIL negotiations to avoid stalemates. ✅ Appointing Principal Designers/Contractors upfront for Building Safety Act compliance. The lesson? Treat planning and regs as your first step, not an afterthought. Do that, and what feels like a bottleneck becomes your project’s foundation. 👉 What’s your best tip for speeding up UK approvals? #UKConstruction #PlanningPermission #BuildingRegulations #BuildingSafetyAct

The Building Safety Act continues to reshape the way we design, plan and deliver construction projects in the UK – and the journey is far from simple. In the latest issue of Building Design & Construction - BDC, our Senior Project Manager Joshua Dixon shares his perspective on the realities of implementing the BSA, the challenges it presents, and how the system must become more efficient, transparent and better resourced. 📖 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eGVT2t3Z #EDGE #BuildingSafetyAct #Construction #Property #BDCmagazine

We’re proud to share that BSI’s Dan Rossiter FCIAT, Built Environment Sector Lead, has been appointed to the government’s expert panel for the Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance. Dan has been appointed based on his experience with technical documentation and information management. 👷♀️ This panel of six experts will support the Building Safety Regulator in reviewing statutory guidance - a process driven by the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. 🔎 Their aim? To ensure building regulations guidance is clear, accurate, and relevant for today’s built environment challenges. Alongside Dan, Dr Hywel Davies, experienced standards-maker and chair of our strategic built environment committee CB/0, brings his deep technical knowledge and decades of experience in developing and overseeing building standards. 🗓 An interim update is expected in early 2026, with the final report due in the summer. We’re delighted to see both Dan and Hywel’s expertise recognised at the highest level, and we look forward to supporting them in shaping the future of building safety and regulation. 👉 Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/3Wi4lRA #BSI #BuiltEnvironment #BuildingRegulations

With the introduction of the Building Safety Levy, the UK is reinforcing its commitment to safer buildings through strategic funding and stricter regulations. The levy will help remediate past safety issues while also presenting new challenges and costs for developers. My advice is to review the draft regulations now and ensure your projects remain compliant ahead of October 2026: https://lnkd.in/e3VD3J3v #BuildingControl #BSL #BuildingSafetyLevy #BSL

Thank you Trowers & Hamlins for an excellent sixth annual mini-conference on building safety this morning. Thought provoking key note from DJH and timely as we battle with the challenges posed by delays on our projects with planning and building control - from rising construction costs to loosing rent free periods and simply economic and social regeneration being slowed down. However, whilst yes, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) knows it needs to move faster, this was never just about the regulator. It’s about all of us — an entire industry that has to face up to some hard truths. We weren’t ready. Our practices need to change. The quality of our building stock has to improve. The BSR has built itself up from a standing start, but too often it’s meeting an industry still lacking in competence and preparedness. This isn’t about ticking boxes or chasing compliance — it’s about a shift in mindset and a renewed focus on purpose, safety, and accountability. The Gateway process is here to stay: Gateway 1 – What are we building, and why? Gateway 2 – Show the detail; prove it’s safe by design. Gateway 3 – Did we deliver on that promise, and is it safe to occupy? These are tough questions — and they should be. Collaboration, competence, and honest product information is essential if we want to rebuild trust. The ongoing review of Building Control also raises important questions about consistency, capability, and whether we have enough people with the right skills. Because at the end of the day, safe, quality homes (and buildings) are a fundamental right. We can’t wait for others to fix it — we all need to be part of the coalition of the willing to drive change. Can we lead this change for you? Gradient Consultants Ltd Clare Armstrong #complianceconsultants #projectmanagers #construction #competence #principaldesigners #BSA #CDM #collaboration #12pointapproach

Since its implementation in October 2023 the #BuildingSafetyAct has created ongoing challenges for clients and design teams alike, so it was good to hear a positive outlook being shared by the #LessonsLearned panel at the Place North West #BuildingSafetyAct Conference in #Manchester on Thursday. Key takeaways from the panel discussion are: 👏 The client and design teams need to be collectively focused to navigate the Gateway 2 submission. The process is much more onerous than the previous RIBA Stage 4 which is driving increased collaboration and coordination across client and consultant teams to ensure successful outcomes ⚠️ Investor risk can be managed by ensuring design teams engage with the RBI and MDT as early as possible in the design process to give the Regulator confidence to approve schemes in the shortest possible timeframes ⛔️ A ‘full circle’ piece is needed to understand the reasons behind Gateway 2 rejections to enable clients and consultant teams to act proactively ahead of submissions 💡The new legislation does not need to signify the end for design innovation. Contractors with preferred specialist supply chains will be well positioned to support innovative design solutions whilst also managing commercial risk Helen Gribbon Renaissance Associates Limited Matthew Hayward Jon Matthews Architects Andy Cox Trigon DM Joel Lewis Greystar Project Four Building Safety Experts Ltd. Alan Robson. Paul Unger Dino Moutsopoulos Julia Hatmaker Helen Sheldon