Last edited 07 Jun 2019

Building a safer future: proposals for reform of the building safety regulatory system

On 6 June 2019 the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) published Building a safer future: proposals for reform of the building safety regulatory system, seeking views on a new building and fire safety system following the recommendations of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

The proposals cover 5 areas:

The scope of the new regime.
The concept of dutyholders who have clear responsibilities throughout a building’s design, construction and occupation.
Giving residents a stronger voice.
A new building safety regulator to provide oversight of the regime.
Strengthened enforcement and sanctions to deter non-compliance.

This regulator will be responsible at a national level for:

Oversight of building safety and wider regulation.
Oversight of the operation and enforcement of the new regime for high rise residential buildings, as well as setting guidance.
Advising government about which buildings should be included in the scope of the new regime..
Oversight of the competence of people working on buildings, including keeping a register of those competent to take on key dutyholder roles and providing guidance on where to find qualified people to work on buildings in scope.

Housing minister James Brokenshire said: “We have outlined plans for a new building safety regulator to provide oversight of the new building safety regulatory regime. This regulator will also oversee the wider building and regulatory system and watch over efforts to assure the competence of those working on buildings. We are also proposing to strengthen the oversight and regulation of construction products. Finally, the proposed system will be underpinned by strengthened enforcement and sanctions to deter non-compliance with the new regime. We believe that this will help drive real culture change in the industry.”

Alongside this document the Home Office issued a call for evidence on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 (the ‘Fire Safety Order’) seeking views on its effectiveness and application to provide a regulatory framework for the ongoing management of fire safety in non-domestic premises and the common parts of multi-occupied residential buildings.

The consultations close on 31 July 2019.

Ref https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/building-a-safer-future-proposals-for-reform-of-the-building-safety-regulatory-system