Consultation on implementing the new building control regime for higher-risk buildings and wider changes to the building regulations for all buildings

We are consulting on proposed changes to building regulations under part three of the Building Safety Act 2022. This consultation seeks views on policy proposals for legislation we intend to introduce to create the building control procedure for higher-risk buildings, as well as wider changes we are proposing to improve the building control system overall.

We are seeking views on:

• New dutyholder and competence requirements on all building work and additional duties for those working on higher-risk buildings. These new roles and requirements aim to ensure a stronger focus on compliance with the regulations
• A series of robust hard stops (“gateway points”) to strengthen regulatory oversight before a higher-risk building is occupied
• The approach to Regulator’s notices to support building projects which comprise both higher-risk building work and non-higher risk building work
• Stronger change control during the construction of higher-risk buildings
• Additional requirements for building work carried out in existing higher-risk building work e.g. refurbishments
• The process of certifying building work that have been carried out without building regulations approval (regularisation)
• Establishing greater record keeping and management in higher-risk buildings (golden thread of information)
• A mandatory occurrence reporting system in higher-risk buildings
• More rigorous enforcement powers for building work in all buildings to focus incentives on the creation of reliably safe buildings from the outset and the approach taken to the review and appeal of building control decisions
• Wider changes to the building regulations to align the existing system with the new system
• The transitional provisions for changing to the new higher-risk building regime