WOBO is pleased to provide updates in respect of developing matters related to building control
Construction Leadership Council publishes Building Control guidance suite –The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published a suite of guidance on Building Control Approval applications for a new higher-risk building (Gateway 2).
This guidance has been produced by CLC, with collaboration from BSR and other industry stakeholders. Baseline principles are included to guide those involved in submitting and assessing applications.
It also includes practical recommendations on information needed to demonstrate clear and comprehensive compliance with the Building Regulations 2010.
Guidance covers 7 key areas:
- the building safety regime for a new higher-risk building
- sufficient level of design
- approval with requirements
- application information schedule
- application project brief
- application document management and submission
- application strategy for a single building staged application, or applications for a multi-building development
This guidance has been created following joint ‘task and finish’ groups between CLC, BSR and industry. It is aimed at improving the quality of developer applications and reducing the number of rejected applications.
- find out more about the guidance
- access other BSR resources to help make a building control application
- view BSR’s recently published Building Control Approval application data for 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2025
Making building control applications: getting it right – Our newly published web page offers essential guidance for navigating the HRB building control application process.
It details how to achieve high-quality, compliant submissions through early engagement and adopting an ‘Identify, Clarify, Justify’ approach with applications.
This guidance, along with case studies and other useful resources can help you avoid common pitfalls, reduce delays and ensure your projects meet the highest safety standards.
Visit the new page and explore how to streamline your application: Getting building control applications right
Building control webinars: online recordings coming soon – Our recent expert-led webinars saw hundreds of attendees joining us online for 2 free sessions.
- Building control applications demystified was aimed at developers. It provided guidance on effective applications, common pitfalls and managing change
- The Fundamentals of Building Control Applications for Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs), offered practical advice on navigating the application process and being an intelligent client
If you missed these valuable sessions, don’t worry. We are making the full recordings, including Q&As, available on our website soon.
Announced last week by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the move comes after industry feedback questioned the HSE’s handling of building safety responsibilities.
Since its inception in 2022, the BSR has operated under the HSE. However, industry leaders have noted issues including delayed approvals, inconsistent inspections, and limited technical oversight.
Stakeholders indicated they would favour a more focused regulator that can better enforce compliance, respond to technical challenges in high‑risk developments, and restore confidence in oversight mechanisms.
Although timelines remain provisional, the intention is to complete the transition within the next 12 months, allowing the new regulator to scale independently.
What does this mean for engineers?
Standalone status could lead to stricter oversight on structural resilience, fire safety, and remediation. Engineers should expect more rigorous Design and As-Built reviews. Freed from broader HSE priorities, the BSR can also standardise its inspection criteria – simplifying interpretation and reducing uncertainty on site.
In addition, an independent regulator may seek deeper engagement with industry advisory panels, technical consultancies, and engineering bodies to refine guidance and implementation. With a leaner structure, application and review processes may become more efficient – potentially speeding up the cadence of high-rise and complex developments.
What should engineers do during the transition phase?
Clarify transitional protocols: Ask clients and regulators how interim procedures will operate during the shift, especially for projects in-flight.
Stay alert to updated guidance: Regulatory transition may trigger new standards, especially around technical competence, safety methodologies, and digital asset handover. Building Engineer will keep members informed.
Engage constructively: Your front-line experience with design and construction safety makes you a valuable voice – seek out consultation forums or working groups where your insights can influence future regulations. Again, Building Engineer and CABE will alert members of any developments.
Aimed at transforming how building safety is managed and enforced, the Bill is a central part of the Welsh Government’s wider building reform programme in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The Bill outlines significant reforms that will directly impact building engineers, surveyors, and other duty holders:
Ongoing risk management
Building safety risks must be continuously assessed and managed throughout a building’s occupation, particularly in multi-occupied residential buildings 11 metres and above.
Reformed building control
The legislation introduces sweeping changes to the building control system, including the mandatory registration and regulation of building control professionals.
Defined legal responsibilities
For the first time, duty holders will have clear legal accountability for building safety, ending the ambiguity over who is responsible for protecting residents and users.
New high-risk building regulations
Enhanced oversight and standards will apply to high-risk buildings, ensuring better design, construction, and post-occupancy safety outcomes.
Resident engagement and complaint routes
Residents will gain new rights to access safety information and raise concerns through formal redress channels. They will also bear responsibilities for supporting the safety of their building.
“This landmark Bill will fundamentally transform safety in multi-occupied residential buildings across Wales,” Jayne Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, said in a statement.
“Its key principles – safety, accountability, and residents’ voices – go further than current legislation in other UK nations,” she added.
“It gives professionals clear duties, equips residents with rights, and ensures enforcement where safety is compromised. We must never again allow the conditions that led to Grenfell to repeat.”
Following the publication of Terms of Reference for the Building Control Independent Panel, the UK Government has issued a Problem Statement.
The statement outlines challenges faced by the Building Control sector and sets outs its intention to work with stakeholders and the profession to consider the questions outlined in the Terms of Reference.
A call for evidence is due to released later this month which will allow organsiations, professionals and individuals to have their voices heard.
Although this only applies to England, members within Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales might benefit from having an awareness.
The Terms of Reference outline how the panel will address the questions which were highlighted in the Grenfell Inquiry final report, alongside a wider range of questions exploring the challenges of the sector.
BSR governance changes – Last week, the government announced several changes to BSR’s governance and leadership.
The move is an early step toward establishing a single construction regulator – a key recommendation from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The changes in organisational structure build directly on the strong foundations created by HSE.
Setting up a new regulator has been complex, and huge progress has been made in a short time. Protecting residents, making sure there is never another tragedy like Grenfell, has always been HSE’s priority.
As BSR enters the next phase in its operations with the introduction of new Innovation and Remediation Enforcement Units, the changes in governance are the natural next step.
The Innovation Unit will enable BSR to streamline and speed up the process for around 30,000 new homes in high-rise buildings we have received building control applications for.
Former Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade Andy Roe KFSM has been appointed as non-executive chair of a new board of The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to work towards taking on BSR’s functions.
There are no changes to the building safety regulatory process or legal requirements and BSR’s operations continue as usual.