Building safety regulator approves only 14% of developers’ plans between 2023 and 2024

FIA report highlights low approval rate for developer plans from Building Safety Regulator

Results from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and reported by Inside Housing have shown that the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approved just 14% of developers’ remediation plans between 1 October 2023 and 16 September 2024.

Out of 1,018 Gateway 2 applications received by the BSR during this period, only 146 were signed off as compliant.

This approval allows construction to begin on site.

The FOI results also revealed that 25 Gateway 2 applications were rejected, while the status of 847 applications remains unknown.

Industry professionals express concern over delays

The FOI data also highlighted concerns from industry professionals about delays in processing applications.

Gateway 2 is a crucial point in the approval process where the BSR must ensure that a building’s design complies with building regulations before construction can proceed.

Jon Pagan, Chair of the FIA’s Fire Engineering Council, commented on the data in a LinkedIn post, explaining: “That data includes applications for new buildings and for work on existing buildings, and we don’t know the breakdown between those.

“But we do know from previous responses from the BSR that the majority of applications have been for work on existing buildings, which should be much simpler than applications for new buildings.”

BSR addresses approval process challenges

In response to concerns, the BSR has outlined some challenges with the approval process.

A spokesperson for the BSR told Inside Housing that they are working to stabilise and improve the building control approval process for higher-risk buildings (HRBs).

They noted that operational contingency measures were put in place following an unexpected increase in applications, which has caused delays.

The spokesperson explained: “We are also experiencing high numbers of applications which are incomplete or unclear, making them unsuitable for approval…

“Applications that are invalidated and rejected still require much of the same process and resources as those which are validated and approved.”

Incomplete applications add to processing delays

The BSR spokesperson further noted that over 40% of the 808 applications received for HRB building control approval as of 16 September were either incomplete or did not fully comply with building regulations, leading to rejection.

The BSR continues to work closely with the industry to strengthen guidance for developers, encouraging them to submit clear and comprehensive applications to reduce delays.

The spokesperson advised: “Clear and comprehensive applications enable us to make informed decisions more quickly, reducing the risk of delays, and ensuring compliance with building control standards.”

Building safety regulator approves only 14% of developers’ plans between 2023 and 2024: Summary

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealing that the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approved just 14% of developers’ Gateway 2 applications between 1 October 2023 and 16 September 2024.

Of 1,018 applications, 146 were approved, 25 were rejected, and the status of 847 is unknown.

Industry professionals have expressed concerns about delays in the approval process, with many pointing to incomplete or unclear submissions as key obstacles.

The BSR has acknowledged the challenges and is working to improve the process for approving higher-risk building projects.