MHCLG to take over Building Safety Regulator functions

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is to take on the functions of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), as part of reforms to the challenged independent body overseeing the approval of high-rise residential buildings.

Former London Fire Brigade commissioner Andy Roe has been appointed as non-executive chair of a new board of MHCLG, which will assume the responsibilities of the BSR. This move, MHCLG said, was part of “initial steps towards creating a single construction regulator” as recommended by the Grenfell Tower inquiry.

Charlie Pugsley, London Fire Brigade’s deputy commissioner/director of prevention, protection and operational policy, will become ceo of the reformed body.

The BSR will also implement a new “Fast Track Process”. This will bring building inspectors and engineers into the regulator to accelerate the processing and review of existing new build applications and remediation decisions. “This will respond to concerns in the sector around delays whilst crucially keeping building and residents’ safety at the core of the process,” MHCLG said.

The industry has expressed concerns over delays to getting applications for new high-rise buildings of 18 metres or more approved. The BSR was established through the Building Safety Act 2022 …