High-rise buildings taking half-a-year for approval
High-rise buildings are taking nearly half a year to be approved over construction or refurbishment, according to a Freedom of Information request from law firm Irwin Mitchell. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was introduced in 2022 as part of the Building Safety Act following the Grenfell Tower tragedy five years earlier.
It introduced a 12-week target to new build projects for higher-risk buildings and an eight-week target for refurbishments. The average time for approval however has been 25 weeks, more twice the timeframe for new builds and triple the deadline set for refurbishments.
“The safety of our buildings is of paramount importance and we are in full support of what the BSR is aiming to achieve,” Robert Tunningley, a construction partner at Irwin Mitchell, said. “However, these delays are a significant concern for the construction industry, as they increase costs, extend project timelines, and put cash flow at risk. The government has some ambitious housebuilding targets during this current parliament, and it is vital that improvements are made if they want to get close to them. We are hopeful that the BSR’s efforts to improve efficiency will yield positive results.”
According to the BSR, staffing issues and processing inefficiencies are to blame for the delay. It has aimed to hire more staff, streamline processes, and launch a dedicated team to small-scale applications from residents. It will also enhance multidisciplinary teams, consisting of Registered Building Inspectors, Fire and Rescue Service personnel, and other specialists.
High-rise buildings over at least seven storeys or 18 metres in height and with two or more residential units are considered higher-risk buildings. This classification also applies to hospitals and care homes.
The FOI request has also found that 1,837 applications to commence higher-risk building work, called Gateway 2 applications, have been made since BSR was launched in 2023.
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