A New Building Safety Regulator Is on the Way

More details are emerging about the Government's new building safety regulator. Last week, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced that the new body is expected to be up and running in shadow form within weeks.

Dame Judith Hackitt to Oversee the Transition

Dame Judith Hackitt, who chaired the 2018 building safety review following the construction-to-begin-under-1225m-government-contract-'>construction-to-begin-under-1225m-government-contract-'>Grenfell Tower fire, will oversee the setup and transition to the new regulator once the necessary legislation is in place.

What the Hackitt Report Recommended

The Hackitt Report originally called for a building safety regulator to be formed as a joint competency authority comprising the HSE, local authority building control, and fire and rescue services. However, recent updates indicate a different approach.

The HSE Will Run the New Regulatory Body

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has confirmed that the new body will be run solely by the HSE. The regulator will use HSE staff initially, with additional personnel brought in as required.

A New Safety System for Building Inspections

The new regime will still operate through existing local regulators, notably local authority building control teams and fire and rescue authorities, which will play a key role in building inspections as part of the developing safety system.

Legislation Expected Later in 2020

Legislation to give the new regulator its formal powers is expected to be put to Parliament later in 2020, but the exact timing is yet to be confirmed. Watch this space for future updates!