Building Safety wiki recaps for 2025

1 In brief
2 Quarter 1
3 Quarter 2
4 Quarter 3
5 Quarter 4
6 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] In brief

2025 marked eight years since the tragedy of Grenfell, and was perhaps considered the year where the transition from the inquiry to the delivery of change became most pressing, following publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report findings in 4 September, 2024 and UK government's formal response to these being published on 26 February, 2025. An acceptance of the recommendations in principle and a commitment to systemic reform, shifted the focus towards stronger regulation, with clearer accountability, and significant change of culture across the entire construction sector.

This was supported by expanded transparency on unsafe cladding remediation through regular data releases, updated guidance for higher-risk buildings, clarifications to fire safety requirements, and progress toward implementing the Building Safety Levy. Together, these measures marked a decisive move away from policy review and toward embedding the post-Grenfell safety framework in practice.

The reform and strengthening of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was the other defining theme of the year. Additional funding, procedural reforms, and the creation of the Innovation Unit sought to address approval delays, while Gateway processes were refined to improve consistency and efficiency. The most significant structural change came in July, when the BSR transferred from the HSE to MHCLG, implementing a core Grenfell recommendation and laying the groundwork for an independent, construction-focused regulator. Alongside this, legislative progress in Wales and Scotland, increased parliamentary scrutiny, and accelerated remediation and competence initiatives reinforced a clear direction of travel: a more robust, accountable, and safety-led building system across the UK.

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, final report was critical of BSR, whilst proposals to enshrine PAS 9980 into law, remained contentious. In general building safety reform continued with some criticism and inconsistency, remediation activity increased as regulatory systems try to strengthen clarity such as definitions of higher-risk buildings, and clearer new Gateway guidance. Some results in the improvement processes of the BSR were noted, alongside government proposals for the single construction regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell inquiry. Internationally the stark reminder of the dangers of high rise fires was highlighted by the final death toll of the horrendous Wang Fuk Court fire, which had early climbed and by early December reached the final death toll of 161 people.

[edit] Quarter 1

January 2025 saw continued government focus on monitoring and progressing post-Grenfell remediation and regulatory reform. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (as it then was) published its monthly building safety remediation data, tracking progress on unsafe cladding removal through the Building Safety Fund and the Cladding Safety Scheme. Cross-government coordination also remained active, with meetings of the Building and Fire Safety Ministerial Working Group considering implementation planning ahead of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 findings, including issues around oversight, accountability, and consistency of fire and building safety regulation across the UK. It was also announced in January 2025 that a consortium headed up by Tata Steel, Saint-Gobain and Kingspan (two of the manufacturers named in the February Grenfell Inquiry final report, announced that they were developing a product information hub that could address the Grenfell Inquiry’s call for a construction data library and were in "discussions with an un-named government department to secure funding to develop an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)"

February 2025 was dominated by the publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 final report and the government’s initial response. Ministers signalled acceptance of the inquiry’s recommendations in principle and committed to wide-ranging reform, including stronger regulation of the construction sector, enhanced fire safety oversight, and action against firms and individuals implicated in systemic failings. During the month, the government also confirmed additional funding for the Building Safety Regulator to help address backlogs in higher-risk building applications and improve regulatory capacity, reflecting growing concern about delays to new-build and remediation approvals under the Building Safety Act regime. Importantly the "Construction Products Reform Green Paper " open consultation was published. Aiming to outline the current situation, the reforms taken, the remaining challenges, and the proposed changes to improve safety, promote economic growth, and support the construction of high-quality homes. Amongst other things it proposed aligning UK regulations with EU standards to reduce trade friction and ensure a competitive marketplace.

March 2025 brought a series of technical and policy developments as the focus shifted toward implementation. Updated guidance was published for the design and construction of higher-risk buildings, supporting duty holders and applicants navigating Building Control Approval processes. The government also issued corrections and clarifications to Approved Document B, aiming to improve consistency in fire safety interpretation, and published its response to the technical consultation on the Building Safety Levy, setting out how the levy would operate in practice ahead of future regulations. Together, these steps marked a move from inquiry and review toward embedding the next phase of the post-Grenfell building safety framework.

[edit] Quarter 2

April 2025 saw the continuation of detailed government monitoring of building safety remediation. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published the April Building Safety Remediation data release, showing updates on unsafe cladding remediation progress across various programmes (including the Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme) and enforcement actions under the Housing Act 2004, with thousands of buildings tracked for remediation status and works underway. Additionally, industry and professional groups held discussions on implementing the new building control regime and Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 work, such as the CTBUH UK Chapter’s April event on building safety challenges that explored practical and regulatory issues facing the construction sector under the Building Safety Act regime.

May 2025 brought further data transparency and reporting on remediation progress. The May 2025 Building Safety Remediation data release documented continued progress (and some increases in buildings identified with unsafe cladding) across high-rise remediation programmes, including developer-led works and social housing providers’ remediation efforts, maintaining a monthly picture of progress and gaps. In the broader policy context, statistical releases on housing supply for April–June 2025 incorporated building regulatory standard changes as part of measuring new supply, highlighting how safety regimes interact with broader housing delivery indicators (though not strictly safety policy itself).

June 2025 featured the first government progress report on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations, published in late May and documented throughout June, showing that nearly all recommendations were accepted and were “in progress,” including actions on regulatory reform, fire services oversight consolidation, and ongoing implementation timelines. International Fire & Safety In June, MHCLG also announced reforms to the Building Safety Regulator aimed at improving efficiency and laying foundations toward the Grenfell recommendation of a single construction regulator, with changes intended to reduce delays in approvals and strengthen governance. The June 2025 Building Safety Remediation data release expanded the monthly reporting content to include estimates of residential buildings with unsafe cladding requiring work, further enriching the government’s public dashboard on remediation status. This whole period was characterised by ongoing detailed public reporting on remediation progress, government momentum on implementing Phase 2 Grenfell Inquiry recommendations, and early regulatory reform actions to address building safety oversight and enforcement, laying groundwork for further legislative and regulatory activity later in 2025. Also in June it was reported that "Manufacturers launch information hub with Government Support" with support from "over 30 manufacturers on board, together with support from Construction Products Europe and five national construction products associations including the CPA in the UK".

[edit] Quarter 3

July 2025 marked a major period of structural and regulatory change in building safety across the UK. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) formally transferred from the HSE to MHCLG, implementing a key Grenfell Inquiry recommendation, while building safety requirements became mandatory within the Common Assessment Standard. Legislative progress continued in the devolved nations, with Wales introducing its Building Safety Bill and Scotland advancing its Building Safety Levy. Guidance was clarified on roof terraces in high-risk buildings, CROSS-UK was confirmed as the official voluntary reporting system, and updated Building Safety Levy guidance was issued. Alongside this, scrutiny of regulation intensified through House of Lords inquiries, new expert panels on building control and regulations, and expanded government remediation plans, with Grenfell-related debarment proceedings delayed due to ongoing criminal cases.

August 2025 focused on accountability, competence, and improving regulatory clarity. The government advanced its Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance, aiming to overhaul Approved Documents by 2026, while the Court of Appeal confirmed retrospective leaseholder protections under the Building Safety Act 2022. Progress continued across the UK on cladding remediation, supported by new guidance, settlements, and skills initiatives to address workforce gaps. Industry bodies launched new tools, guidance, and training to raise standards in product safety, fire doors, façades, and building control readiness, while the BSR increased engagement with applicants to improve application quality and reduce delays. New research also informed future fire safety strategies, particularly around evacuation systems in high-rise buildings.

September 2025 saw continued focus on leadership, investment, and oversight. Senior appointments in construction leadership coincided with plans for large-scale infrastructure investment, while fire safety awareness and training initiatives gained prominence. Regulatory scrutiny remained strong, with reports highlighting thousands of life-critical defects in social housing and parliamentary committees examining the effectiveness and resourcing of the BSR. The closure of the Building Safety Fund to new applications marked a shift toward the Cladding Safety Scheme for future remediation, and major developers disclosed the scale of legacy safety costs, underlining the long-term financial and operational impact of post-Grenfell reforms on the construction sector.

[edit] Quarter 4

In October 2025, parliamentary and committee scrutiny of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) continued, focusing on delays to new-build and remediation approvals affecting around 33,000 homes. The BSR reported record Gateway 2 applications and highlighted reforms, including the Innovation Unit, which is beginning to streamline processes and reduce rejection times, with progress seen in projects such as the UK’s first volumetric student accommodation in Ealing and advances in social housing competence standards. Regulatory and remediation developments across the UK included the NFCC’s Remediation Position Statement calling for a coordinated, risk-based approach, expansion of Scotland’s Cladding Remediation Programme, a landmark fire safety prosecution in Birmingham, and MHCLG guidance to accelerate developer-led remediation. Competence, governance, and professional standards also advanced through new training partnerships, updated guidance, and industry initiatives, while high-profile local decisions and Grenfell-related legal settlements highlighted the ongoing complexity of legacy safety issues.Grenfell-related projects underscored the ongoing complexity and sensitivity of legacy safety issues.

November 2025, efforts to improve approval times intensified, with pilots for Gateway 2 batching, new Gateway 3 guidance, and thousands of units processed with Innovation Unit support. Internationally, the catastrophic Wang Fuk Court fire highlighted the risks associated with refurbishment and site practices, reinforcing the urgency of reform. In the UK, BSR approved over 11,000 residential units in November, while draft legislation was laid to establish the regulator as an independent body in line with Grenfell Inquiry recommendations. Alongside this, new competence frameworks, technical guidance, funding routes, and memorial initiatives progressed, reflecting a sector still under intense scrutiny but steadily embedding stronger governance, clearer regulation, and a renewed focus on safety, accountability, and trust.

December 2025 was marked by the Building Safety Regulator: Building a better regulator 2nd Report of Session 2024–26 published by the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, which scrutinised the history, functions and processes BSR. Internationally a reminder of the dangers of high rise fires was highlighted by the final death toll of the horrendous Wang Fuk Court fire, which had early climbed and by early December reached the final death toll of 161 people. In the UK building safety reform continued with some criticism and inconsistency, remediation activity continued to increase as regulatory systems try to strengthen clarity such as definitions of higher-risk buildings, and clearer new Gateway guidance. Some results in the improvement processes of the BSR was noted, alongside government proposals for the single construction regulator, as recommended by the Grenfell inquiry. Whilst other proposals to enshrine PAS 9980 into law, remained contentious, in particular for its term “tolerable” open interpretation. Some highlighting the risk of allowing combustible materials to remain, potentially undermining safety and inflating insurance costs, despite the government arguing that it provides proportionate, practical clarity to accelerate stalled remediation. The reopening of the original PAS 9980 consultation due to discovery of lost submissions though has not helped confidence in the framework. On the more positive, the announcement of the new Built Environment Competence Hub in 2026 and one Hackney-based co-living scheme of 150 homes, achieving Gateway 2 approval from the BSR in a record breaking time of 13 weeks, only one week longer than the targeted 12 weeks. Highlighting the actuality of the improved BSR processes and some hope of clearing the backlogs.