It’s taking almost half a year on average to make a decision on the construction and refurbishment of high-rise buildings, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by law firm Irwin Mitchell.
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was introduced as part of the Building Safety Act 2022 following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017.
This introduced a 12-week target to new build projects for higher-risk buildings, as well as an eight-week target for refurbishments.
However, the average time taken for approval was 25 weeks, more than double the timeframe for new builds, and three times the deadline set for refurbishments.
Robert Tunningley, a construction partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: “The safety of our buildings is of paramount importance and we are in full support of what the BSR is aiming to achieve.
“However, these delays are a significant concern for the construction industry, as they increase costs, extend project timelines, and put cash flow at risk. The government has some ambitious housebuilding targets during this current parliament, and it is vital that improvements are made if they want to get close to them.
“We are hopeful that the BSR’s efforts to improve efficiency will yield positive results.”
What’s causing the delays?
According to the Building Safety Regulator staffing issues and process inefficiencies are at fault. The BSR has since targeted recruiting additional personnel, streamlining processes, and dedicating a team to small-scale applications made by residents.
In addition, the BSR is enhancing its multidisciplinary teams, which consist of Registered Building Inspectors, Fire and Rescue Service personnel, and other specialists.
Higher-risk buildings include those with at least seven storeys or 18 metres in height and containing two or more residential units. It also extends to hospitals and care homes.
Irwin Mitchell’s FOI request reveals that 1,837 applications to commence higher-risk building work (known as Gateway 2 applications) have been made since the BSR was established in October 2023.
