House of Lords Committee cites cladding delays risking 1.5 million homes target

Delays linked to cladding remediation

A cross-party House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has warned the Government that Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approval delays are leaving residents in England waiting longer for dangerous cladding remediation, with higher costs for leaseholders.

The Committee published its report, The Building Safety Regulator: Building a better regulator, on Thursday 11 December 2025.

It said the delays have stretched beyond the regulator’s statutory timelines for building control decisions.

The Committee said it welcomed the increased scrutiny the BSR has brought to the design, construction and management of buildings in the interest of safety.

It also warned that delays could put the Government at risk of missing its target to build 1.5 million homes by 2029.

Findings on guidance and application quality

After hearing from witnesses including campaign groups, developers, housing associations and regulators working closely with the BSR, the Committee said the BSR has not given clear enough guidance on how applicants should demonstrate that buildings are safe.

It said many applications are being rejected or delayed because of basic errors.

It also said applicants are struggling to evidence how they are considering elements of fire safety and structural safety.

The Committee said this reflects poorly on the construction industry.

It also raised concerns that many construction products do not have relevant product standards, leaving them unregulated.

Inspector workforce and scope concerns

The Committee said difficulties in local authority funding and the introduction of regulation have contributed to an ageing workforce of building inspectors who are struggling to meet demand.

It said smaller works, such as bathroom renovations in high-rise buildings, are being subject to the scrutiny of the BSR’s multidisciplinary teams (MDTs).

The Committee linked that to pressure on MDT capacity.

It said a more streamlined approach is needed for smaller works.

Calls for BSR process changes

The Committee called on the BSR to give greater guidance to MDTs on how compliance with the Building Regulations should be evidenced and assessed to improve consistency.

It also called on the Government to remove smaller works from the BSR’s building control approval processes, or introduce a streamlined approval process for them.

The Committee said allocating the same MDTs to similar buildings or projects built by the same organisation could improve efficiency and consistency.

It also called on the Government to provide long-term funding for the training of new building and fire inspectors.

BSR response on processing times

The Building Safety Regulator said: “We recognise that building control applications have been taking too long to process.

“Since the Committee began its hearings in the summer, we have made significant changes to speed up decision making with a focus on new build and cladding remediation applications.

“These include a new Innovation Unit, batching processes, and the introduction of account managers to improve communication with applicants.

“These improvements are helping to increase industry confidence and, in the 12 weeks to 24 November, enabled construction to proceed on over 11,000 new homes.

“We also saw a 73% approval rate for new build decisions during that time, demonstrating that changes introduced are beginning to work.

“Making sure buildings with dangerous cladding are remediated quickly is also a priority and will be the focus of our new Remediation Enforcement Unit which will begin working on cases in the new year.

“The Committee’s recognition that BSR has successfully driven a ‘crucial cultural shift’ toward safer homes is a welcome endorsement of the new regime.

“We remain firmly committed to being a proportionate and enabling regulator that works alongside the construction sector to protect residents and deliver safe buildings in support of the government’s housing targets.”

Committee Chair comments on delays

Baroness Taylor of Bolton, Chair of the Committee, said: “The tragic loss of 72 lives at the Grenfell Tower fire laid bare the urgent need to reform building safety regulation in England, particularly for high-rise buildings.

“We welcome that the Government and the BSR are now acting to try and make practical improvements, but this will not address the anxiety and frustration that residents and companies have experienced.

“It does not improve safety to delay vital remediation and refurbishments, nor to deter the delivery of new housing in high-rise buildings.

“We expect to see further action from the Government and the BSR to ensure that construction projects in high-rise buildings can be brought forward more quickly, without compromising on vital safety improvements.”

What this means for approval teams and dutyholders

Delays linked to BSR approvals can affect fire engineers, building services engineers and design teams that need to evidence fire safety and structural safety decisions within building control submissions.

The Committee’s comments on basic application errors and missing evidence may lead dutyholders, principal designers and principal contractors to tighten internal checks before submissions, especially on how fire safety and structural safety have been considered.

Facilities managers and housing providers overseeing cladding remediation and refurbishment programmes may also see knock-on impacts where approvals sit on MDT caseloads for longer.

The Committee’s recommendations on removing smaller works from the BSR process, or streamlining approvals for them, could change how high-rise maintenance projects are planned and scheduled.

The call for long-term funding to train building and fire inspectors is directly relevant to enforcement capacity and the consistency of building control decisions.

Industry response from fire door manufacturer

Will Hunnam, Managing Director, Forza Doors, said: “The Lords committee is right to highlight delays created by the Building Safety Regulator.

“Excessive processing time is resulting in material project delays, the direct cost impact of these delays is ultimately rendering many projects economical unsustainable.

“Fire safety now has to be designed in from day one.

“When compliance and performance requirements are aligned early, projects move faster and deliver better outcomes.

“Delays disrupt that process and create uncertainty across the supply chain.

“Increased regulation is welcome, but only if it comes with clear guidance, proper resourcing and unwavering standards.

“Fire doors and passive protection are critical to keeping people safe and protecting asset value.

“The industry is ready to deliver.

“It now needs a regulator that can keep pace.”