1 Mandatory Occurrence Reporting for Higher-Risk Buildings
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has recently published guidance for principal designers, principal contractors and accountable persons to report incidents or risks of structural failure, or the spread of fire.
Information on mandatory occurrence reporting can be found here.
2 Contact the Building Safety Regulator
Contact details have been launched on how to contact the BSR to ask a question or make a complaint. Anyone in England can use this service.
3 Registered Building Inspectors – Update for Wales
The BSR’s services in relation to registered building inspectors in Wales have gone live, more information can be found here. Guidance is available on the role, legal responsibilities and how to register as a building inspector in England and Wales.
All private sector businesses that want to do building control work in England and Wales under the Building Act 1984 (as amended) must apply to register with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR). Guidance can be found here.
4 The Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (England) Regulations 2024
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has laid the Building (Registered Building Control Approvers etc.) (England) Regulations 2024. The Regulations can be found here.
These regulations consolidate and replace the Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 2010, implementing the changes introduced to the Building Act 1984 by the Building Safety Act 2022. This instrument is part of the overall reforms to the building control profession to improve standards and ensure uniformity in professional conduct and competence for all building control professionals. It includes provisions to replace existing approved inspectors with registered building control approvers.
5 Built Environment Industry Culture Change Research
The BSR recently published its first 3-year strategic plan where it establishes a vision to drive change and create a built environment where everyone is competent and takes responsibility to ensure buildings are of high quality and are safe.
To support this, the Regulator would like to hear from a range of built environment professionals to understand perspectives on industry ‘culture’ and get feedback on a culture change framework that is in development. BSR has commissioned Verian, an independent research agency, to conduct small focus groups with developers, architects and designers, contractors, building owners, resident management companies, managing agents and building control professionals.
If you work in any of these roles and would like to participate, please contact Verian by email by 9 February 2024.
