Overview of the Building Safety Regulator’s strategic plan

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) published its first three-year strategic plan on 28 November and Natalie Sellar, Managing Associate from Addleshaw Goddard, provides a summary. 

The plan shows the BSR intends to create a built environment where everyone is competent and takes responsibility to ensure buildings are of high quality and are safe.

Unsurprisingly, regulatory scrutiny and inspection is very much on the horizon, and the BSR has made clear its intention to assess 4 in 10 existing occupied higher-risk buildings (HRBs) by 2026, and all existing occupied HRBs within 5 years. HRBs will be prioritised by height and the number of dwellings.

The BSR’s strategic priorities from 2023 to 2026, include (but are not limited to):

• a focus on improving the standards and consistency within the building control profession, driving improvements across the built environment, and regulating the planning, design and construction of new HRBs;
• a focus on certain key activities, for example: setting a common standard of competence for building inspectors; assuring the performance of building control bodies; identifying and assessing emerging risks; and ensuring fire safety is incorporated into the planning of new HRBs; and
• in terms of assessment, inspection and enforcement, the BSR will: assess professionals against the Building Inspector Competence Framework; inspect building control bodies for compliance with Operational Standards Rules and assess emerging risks in the building sector.

The BSR indicates it will work closely with third parties, stakeholders, and the Industry Competence Committee to achieve these goals. Part of its remit will include handling complaints and mandatory occurrence reports, as well as taking enforcement action on non-compliant entities.

Further reading: Building Safety Regulator sets out three-year plan to create competent built environment and restore trust in sector

The BSR’s plan also notes its goals to improve competence and consistency in the building control profession, increased public confidence in building control, safer buildings, and greater trust in building safety. There is a real focus on promoting a culture where obtaining the necessary competence is seen as a core requirement across all levels of the workforce.

Accountable Persons and Principal Accountable Persons should be aware of this development and plan accordingly.

For further information, please contact Adrian Mansbridge or Natalie Sellar from Addleshaw Goddard’s specialist fire and building safety team.

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