Building Safety Regulator

[edit] Introduction

The Building Safety Regulator was set up under the Building Safety Act 2022 to:

• regulate higher-risk buildings
• raise safety standards of all buildings
• help professionals in design, construction, and building control, to improve their competence

It has been established as part of the Health and Safety Executive and sets out rules to protect the design and construction of higher-risk buildings. They help give residents confidence in the safety and standards of their building. BSR has a legal responsibility to consult with residents through the residents panel.

You can find out more at: https://www.hse.gov.uk/building-safety/regulator.htm

[edit] History

On 28 October 2019 the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) announced that Dame Judith Hackitt would advise MHCLG on the most effective way to deliver a new Building Safety Regulator (BSR). The appointment followed Dame Judith’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, published in May 2018 following the Grenfell Tower Fire. The government committed to take forward all of her recommendations.

For more information see: Hackitt review of the building regulations and fire safety, final report.

Communities Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “I am grateful that Dame Judith has agreed to advise my department on the new Building Safety Regulator. Her expertise will be essential to forming a strong Regulator with teeth to ensure all residents are safe, and feel safe, in their homes both now and in the future."

Ref https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dame-judith-hackitt-named-as-government-adviser-on-the-new-building-safety-regulator

On 20 January 2020 Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced new measures to improve building safety standards, described as: ‘the biggest change in building safety for a generation’. The changes, include the immediate creation of the new Building Safety Regulator and a consultation on extending the ban on combustible materials.

For more information see: Reform of building safety standards.

The Explanatory Notes to the Draft Building Safety Bill, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government on 20 July 2020, suggests that: 'The Building Safety Regulator will be set up within the Health and Safety Executive, and make buildings safer through the implementation and enforcement of the new more stringent regulatory regime for buildings in scope, stronger oversight of the safety and performance of all buildings, and assisting and encouraging competence among the built environment industry, and registered building inspectors.'

Setting the bar. A new competence regime for building a safer future. The Final Report of the Competence Steering Group for Building a Safer Future, published in October 2020, defines the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as: ‘The new regulator established in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that will be responsible for implementing a more stringent regulatory regime for buildings in scope; overseeing the safety and performance of all buildings; and oversight of the competence and organisational capability of professionals, tradespeople and building control professionals working on all buildings.’

In February 2021, the HSE announced that its director of building safety and construction, Peter Baker, would run the Building Safety Regulator as 'chief inspector of buildings'. Ref https://press.hse.gov.uk/2021/02/16/hse-announces-new-chief-inspector-of-buildings/

In August 2022, the government launched a consultation on proposals to charge fees for the services of the new Building Safety Regulator.

In June 2025, the government confirmed that a new arm’s length body to MHCLG was being established with the intention for this to take on the functions of the BSR from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in due course. It also announced a new structure and a fast track procedure following complaints that approvals were taking too long. Ref https://www.gov.uk/government/news/reforms-to-building-safety-regulator-to-accelerate-housebuilding

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