Building Safety Act 2022 Handbook for Wales Design and Construction Phase

The “Building Safety Act 2022 Handbook for Wales – Design and Construction Phase”, was first published on June 21, 2024 by the Welsh Government. It serves as a comprehensive guide to the ongoing reforms in Welsh building control during the design and construction stage and collates the current legislative framework, forms, regulatory processes, and accompanying guidance relating to building control reform in Wales. Importantly, the handbook is designed to be a living document—“periodically updated” as additional regulations are finalised and governance evolves.

The handbook underscores a distinct regulatory pathway for Wales, in comparison to that of England. Key highlights include the definition of Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) under the Building Safety (Description of Higher-Risk Building) (Design and Construction Phase) (Wales) Regulations 2023, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, which states in contrast to England, that a Welsh HRB requires just one residential unit (versus two), and the Act’s Part 4 provisions for occupied HRBs do not apply in Wales.

The handbook also details the new professional framework for building control in Wales. Since April 6, 2024, building control professionals must register with the Building Safety Regulator, transitioning to roles such as Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCAs) and Registered Building Inspectors (RBIs). During a transitional period (until October 1, 2024), former Approved Inspectors can work under the new system or have their work transferred to local authority control. The handbook includes new “W”-suffix forms (e.g., Form 1(W)) to mirror these Welsh-specific processes. Looking forward, it outlines Wales’s trajectory for future reforms, including the eventual introduction of duty holders, the “Golden Thread” information regime, and a strengthening of building control processes in later phases.

Full guide here https://www.gov.wales/building-safety-act-2022-handbook-wales-design-and-construction-phase

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