Single construction regulator

The term single construction regulator or construction regulator was the first of the formal recommendations put forward in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report. It called for a single regulator to be created by the government to draw together different aspects and functions relating to the construction industry. The aim of this being to reduce the existing fragmentation, as it saw, across the industry and to help drive culture change through the different trades and professions.

The Phase 2 report, section 113.5 stated:

"In our view all the functions to which we have referred… should be exercised by a single independent body headed by a person whom, for the sake of convenience, we shall call a construction regulator, reporting to a single Secretary of State. The establishment of such a regulator would bring a number of benefits, not least a focal point in driving a much-needed change in the culture of the construction industry. It would enable information to be shared effectively between those responsible for different aspects of the industry and promote the exchange of ideas. Information on developments in the industry, both in this country and abroad, could be shared more easily between all those interested in it. We envisage that such a construction regulator would have sufficient resources to take on the following functions, most of which are currently discharged by one or other of a variety of bodies:

• the regulation of construction products (a);
• the development of suitable methods for testing the reaction to fire of materials and products intended for use in construction (b);
• the testing and certification of such products (c);
• the issue of certificates of compliance of construction products with the requirements of legislation, statutory guidance and industry standards (d);
• the regulation and oversight of building control (e);
• the licencing of contractors to work on higher-risk buildings (f);
• monitoring the operation of the Building Regulations and the statutory guidance and advising the Secretary of State on the need for change (g);
• carrying out research on matters affecting fire safety in the built environment (h);
• collecting information, both in this country and abroad, on matters affecting fire safety (i);
• exchanging information with the fire and rescue services on matters affecting fire safety (j);
• accrediting fire risk assessors (k);
• maintaining a publicly available library of test data and publications. (l)

On 17 December, 2025 MHCLG published its Single construction regulator prospectus this set out government’s plans for regulatory reform and the development of a single construction regulator. It provided a strategic case for reforming the regulatory system for the built environment and set out the potential role for the new regulator within it. This prospectus also provided proposals for future areas of focus for a reformed regulatory system.

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