Episode 177 - *Bonus* Building Safety Regulator Reform

This week we will be talking about the Building Safety Regulator Reform and introduction of the ‘Fast Track Process’. This episode content meets PC3 - Legal Framework & Processes of the Part 3 Criteria.

Resources from today's episode:

Websites:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reforms-to-building-safety-regulator-to-accelerate-housebuilding
• https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/riba-reacts-to-plans-to-reform-the-building-safety-regulator
• https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/what-does-a-fast-track-process-look-like-for-architects-under-the-new-building-safety-regulator-refo

Thank you for listening! Please follow me on Instagram @part3withme for weekly content and updates or contact me via email me at part3withme@outlook.com or on LinkedIn. 

Website: www.part3withme.com

Join me next week for more Part3 With Me time.

If you liked this episode please give it a rating to help reach more fellow Part3er's!

Transcript

Episode 177:

Hello and Welcome to the Part3 with me podcast. 

The show that helps part 3 students jump-start into their careers as qualified architects and also provides refresher episodes for practising architects. If you would like to show your support for the podcast and help us continue making amazing content, click on the link in the episode notes to sign up to our subscription. I also offer one to one mentoring services to help you with your submissions, exams and interview, head over to our website to learn more or reach out to me on LinkedIn through the Part3 With Me page, or instagram my handle is @part3withme or email me at part3withme@outlook.com. 

I am your host Maria Skoutari and this week is a quick bonus update about the Building Safety Regulator Reform and introduction of the ‘Fast Track process’. Todays’ episode meets PC3 of the Part 3 Criteria.

On the 30th of June this year, the government announced a set of reforms to the Building Safety Regulator role. As I mentioned in a previous episode, this is due to the extensive delays that have been experienced with Gateway 2 applications taking twice as long for them to be processed than the original target period of 12 weeks for new builds and 8 weeks for work on existing buildings.  

The Building Safety Regulator role is currently under the stewardship of the Health and Safety Executive, however, the government is now considering new leadership, funding and a new ‘fast track process’ to help speed up new build applications as well as remediation applications rectifying the backlog caused. These changes aim to support the governments ambition to deliver 1.5 million safe, high quality homes.

So, what does this Reform look like:

Well firstly, a new board will be created within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to oversee the Building Safety Regulator. Essentially this will take away the role from the Health and Safety Executive creating an independent single construction regulator. A direct response to the Grenfell Inquiry recommendations. This essentially means, a move towards a single regulatory body overseeing the entire construction ecosystem with the aim of improving coherence and accountability as well as addressing regulatory fragmentation. The reform will strengthen the regulator’s authority to investigate serious building safety incidents rapidly and transparently, with consideration for establishing a standalone investigation body as a further safeguard.

The government will be publishing a prospectus of the reform this Autumn setting out further details on the single regulator. I will follow up with another episode then expanding on the anticipated reform process. 

Now, what will the ‘Fast track process’ look like:

The process will involve setting up a Building Safety Regulator wholly owned by a Multi-Disciplinary Team comprising of Regulatory Leads, Case Officers and specialist resource such as building inspectors and engineers. So specialists within this team will be encouraged to directly contact the applicant, resolve issues and support a quick outcome to help them explain how theirs designs will meet the regulations, not to negotiate compliance or involve Building Safety Regulator in co-design. 

The ambition is to recruit over 100 additional staff members to enhance operational efficiency. Alongside this, the government will be supporting the publication of industry guidance to improve the quality of applications and help to reduce processing times. 

The key aim of the fast track process is to unblock delays and bring confidence to the industry through the accelerated process and cleared guidance. Hopefully increasing the pace for housing projects to meet the 1.5 million target if the applicant appropriately demonstrates compliance with the building regulations.

Additionally, modern digital tools and AI-assisted planning systems are being deployed. These aim to streamline application submissions, reduce human error, provide real-time guidance, and assess developers’ capability systemically rather than evaluating each building in isolation.

So what is the interim plan between now and when the reform starts taking effect:

Generally, the Gateway process will not be impacted by these operational changes therefore everything will continue to run as is while the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government puts the processes in place for the fast track process. 

Although the process may accelerate applications, the intention is to ensure efficiency and eliminate unnecessary administrative delays. The government has emphasised that all current safety requirements must still be fully met.

Some further key changes coming up, which I will cover in separate episode is the introduction of the Building Safety Levy this autumn that will apply to most new residential buildings requiring building control approval, raising funds for remediation. Some buildings—such as affordable homes, NHS facilities, and small developments—may be exempt from the levy, but details are pending.

The other key change is the implementation of Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans from 2026, whereby building managers/owners will be required to prepare and implement emergency evacuation plans for residents with mobility or other challenges, meeting a key Grenfell Inquiry requirement.

As mentioned, I will follow up in the next forthcoming months with further updates of the reform and fast track process so stay tuned!

To sum up what I discussed today:

• The government is overhauling the Building Safety Regulator, creating a new, independent body within the Ministry of Housing to enhance coherence, accountability, and rapid incident response—directly addressing issues highlighted by the Grenfell Inquiry.
• A dedicated, multidisciplinary team and a new 'fast track process' will be introduced to significantly speed up application processing times for new builds and remediation projects, aiming to clear the substantial backlog of Gateway 2 applications and support the government's target of 1.5 million high-quality homes.
• The reforms will see the recruitment of over 100 new staff, alongside new digital tools and AI planning systems, to streamline applications and reduce administrative delays, all while maintaining existing safety standards.
• As these reforms roll out, existing processes will remain unchanged in the interim. Further changes—including the upcoming Building Safety Levy and new evacuation planning requirements—will be covered in future episodes as more details are released.