The Building Safety Regulator Commits to Tackling Building Control Delays
Published: 06/08/2024
In a significant development for the construction industry, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has pledged to allocate additional resources to address building control delays. The decision follows a high-level meeting with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), where the severity of the problem was highlighted.
Surge in Applications for High-Rise Residential Project Approval
The BSR revealed that it had received an “unexpected increase in applications” for high-rise residential project approval, a responsibility it assumed in April. This surge is partly due to the recent immediate suspension of over 50 building projects following the compulsory liquidation of the private registered building control approver AIS Surveyors.
Impact of Increased Workload on the Construction Industry
This immediate and substantial increase in the BSR’s workload has caused further delays across the construction industry. The suspended projects are those categorized as higher risk, including high-rise buildings spanning at least seven floors or reaching at least 18 meters in height, as well as residential units, care homes, and hospitals.
Building Control Inspector Shortages
Shortages of building control inspectors have raised concerns about long waits for statutory BSR approval, which would delay the start of construction on taller residential projects. Legally, the BSR is supposed to process applications to build a higher-risk building (HRB) within 12 weeks and applications for refurbishment work on an existing HRB within six weeks. However, these processes have often been taking nearly double the expected time.
Insufficient Application Details Causing Delays
The BSR has repeatedly indicated that applicants were not providing enough detail in their applications, particularly on smaller refurbishment projects or work on existing buildings, which has further delayed the application process.
Richard Stone, head of North West Operations at Harris Associates, commented, “This is positive news, and we look forward to being able to move on with our projects and achieve reduced response times following the submission of our queries.”
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Harris Associates' Commitment to Building Safety
Harris Associates welcomes this proactive step by the BSR. As experts in building safety and compliance, we understand the critical role that efficient building control plays in ensuring the safety and quality of our built environment. Reduced delays will benefit developers and contractors and ultimately protect building occupants.
We are committed to supporting clients through the complexities of the building safety landscape. Our team of experienced chartered building surveyors can provide expert advice and guidance on all statutory requirements, building control and compliance.
Harris Associates can offer a bespoke solution to enable you to comply with the latest legislation. We are experts in statutory compliance and fire safety-related matters with experienced and qualified technicians, surveyors, engineers, and project managers. We have national coverage and can help with all aspects of compliance including Building Safety Case Reports or façade remediation from FRAEWs through to the coordination and delivery of complex façade remediation contracts.
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