<p>All planning applications for residential buildings in London <span>of</span> above 30 metres must now include a second staircase, the mayor of London Sadiq Khan has determined.</p> <p>With “immediate effect”, all tall residential buildings at application stage above this height will need to be designed with <span>two staircases</span> before they can be referred to the Greater London Authority (GLA) for Stage 2 approval.</p> <p>This follows the publication of a government consultation just before Christmas - <i><span> <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sprinklers-in-care-homes-removal-of-national-classes-and-staircases-in-residential-buildings/sprinklers-in-care-homes-removal-of-national-classes-and-staircases-in-residential-buildings#paragraph-106-and-107--call-for-evidence">Sprinklers in care homes, removal of national classes, and staircases in residential buildings</a> – </span></i><span>which proposes that new residential buildings of more than 30 metres feature a second staircase for safety purposes. </span></p> <p><span>Under the consultation, which is still open until March 17, the Department </span><span>for </span><span>Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is seeking views on future updates to Building Regulation Part B (fire safety).</span></p> <p><span>In the document issued on December 23, DLUHC stated that </span><span>with many schemes in development and the significance of the staircase measure,</span><span> it was proposing “a very short transition period” before implementing </span><span>this</span><span> change, with all developments encouraged “to prepare for this change now”. </span></p> <p><span>In its planning pages, the Greater London Authority stated that</span> given DLUHC’s wish to …