The Building Safety Regulator new body and transfer of functions

On 27 January, it was confirmed by the announcement BSR becomes standalone body in landmark step towards single construction regulator. The move from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to an arm’s-length body under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, represents a significant moment for the built environment.

"Originally established in 2021 in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, BSR’s full powers came into force under the Building Safety Act 2022. Having benefitted from the expertise of the HSE to set up and establish the foundations required for a new regulator, today’s transition signals a renewed commitment to putting residents at the heart of everything BSR does. As a new organisation, BSR will work towards establishing a single regulator by promoting competence and higher standards. It will drive the vital culture change required by everyone working in the built environment to support this government’s ambition to build more, safe homes, and remediate those which are unsafe. The move to standalone status is underpinned by a significant ‘operational reset’ in BSR’s role as the building control authority for higher-risk buildings. Following the introduction of its Innovation Unit and new efficiency measures, the regulator’s operational delivery is fast improving. This progress demonstrates a commitment to combine regulatory experience with industry knowledge to target guidance and education where it is needed most."

On 11 November 2025 "The Building Safety Regulator (Establishment of New Body and Transfer of Functions etc.) Regulations 2026" was laid before Parliament. For further information see Building Safety Regulator reforms, The Building Safety Regulator, Grenfell Tower Inquiry and more on the Building Safety wiki.

The new regulations create a new independent Building Safety Regulator to take over all building-safety duties that currently sit with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). As of 27 January 2026, the new body became legally responsible for regulating building safety in England and Wales.

The regulations laid before Parliament set out how the Regulator will be structured, how its members and chief executive will be appointed, how it can employ staff, manage money, set up committees, and report annually to Parliament. They also transfer all relevant building-safety powers, duties, and ongoing work from HSE to the new Regulator so that nothing is interrupted.

A series of amendments to existing laws, such as the Building Safety Act 2022, Building Act 1984, and health and safety legislation remove references to HSE and replace them with the new Regulator. In short, the instrument formally establishes the new body, gives it the powers it needs to operate, and ensures a smooth transition from HSE without disrupting building-safety regulation.

Marking the shift to being a standalone organisation on 27 January 2026 Lord Roe, Chair of BSR, said:

"Today is a decisive and important step in strengthening building safety and a milestone that marks our evolution into a standalone regulator. While the creation of BSR in 2021 was a water shed moment, today is about looking forward to a single construction regulator that brings coherence to a once-fragmented system. We will know we are successful when residents acknowledge we have made the built environment safer. Today is about continuing to support homes being built safely while fulfilling our primary mission: ensuring we are all building better and living safer, together."

Charlie Pugsley, Acting Chief Executive Officer of BSR, said:

"Today is a significant new chapter for BSR, with a clear signal that while we must continue to focus on improving our operational delivery for both new build homes and occupied HRBs, our mandate extends far beyond high-rise oversight to a broader responsibility for safety and standards across buildings in England. By driving professional competence and refining regulatory guidance, we can ensure a holistic approach that spans from initial design through to lifelong building management. Our commitment to robust enforcement and cultural transformation serves a single, vital purpose in 2026 and beyond - restoring resident confidence and trust in the built environment."

Samantha Dixon, Building Safety Minister said:

Everyone deserves to live in a safe home and we are determined to deliver lasting change to make this a reality. The Building Safety Regulator sits at the heart of this mission, and today launching a new body is an important step in realising sector wide reform. I look forward to working with the new leadership team on our journey towards the Single Construction Regulator.

Initial Building Safety Regulator reforms which were announced on 30 June, 2025, when Andy Roe KFSM (previously Commissioner of London Fire Brigade) was appointed as non-executive chair of the new board of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) who took on the functions of the BSR as part of initial steps towards creating the single construction regulator, supported by Charlie Pugsley new Chief Executive Officer for the BSR.

At the time Alex Norris, then Minister for Building Safety, 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 – delivering on our Plan for Change.”

These changes follow on from the announcement on 1 April 2025 that the ministerial responsibility for all fire functions was to move from the Home Office to MHCLG. A change considered by the government as delivering on a key recommendation that came from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, which advised that fire and building safety should be overseen by a single department. This included the role commonly referred to as Building Safety Minister, which was the Minister of Building Safety and Local Growth, and as of September 2025 became the Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy.

Rushanara Ali resigned as Building Safety Minister following attendance at the Franco-British Colloque, a conference sponsored by Saint-Gobain, the majority owner of Celotex which was criticised by the Grenfell Inquiry, and on 9 July 2024 was replaced by Alex Norris. In turn, as the result of a government reshuffle in September 2025, Alex Norris was replaced by Samantha Dixon on 16 September, 2025. On 11 November 2025 as the new Regulations for 2026 were laid before Parliament, Samantha Dixon as Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (Labour), published a written statement in support of the new regulations saying:

"In June 2025, my department announced changes to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Today I am laying before the House draft regulations which will move the functions of the Building Safety Regulator out of the Health and SafetyExecutive(HSE), and to an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

"This change will position the BSR for the coming years. It will strengthen lines of accountability and give a dedicated focus to BSR operations, and is an important first step towards establishing a single construction regulator, the lead recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report.

"I am grateful to HSE for the leadership and experience it has brought to the establishment and early operations of the BSR, and for its ongoing support as this change is made."