Building Safety Regulator Launches Plan To Slash Decision Times
The Building Safety Regulator has launched a recovery plan to address long-running delays in the approval of higher-risk building remediation schemes, with a particular focus on expediting permits for cladding and external wall works.
The regulator is targeting a reduction in average decision times to less than 12 weeks by December. While this remains above the statutory eight-week benchmark, it would represent a significant improvement in turnaround times.
The BSR is establishing a dedicated remediation taskforce and launching a recruitment push aimed at reducing assessor caseloads from around 25 live applications to closer to 10 each.
Slow approvals have held up the delivery of critical fire safety works and contributed to the reduction of London's build-to-rent pipeline to a trickle.
The BSR said around 40% of live remediation applications are linked to government funding programmes, with internal resource pressures and a backlog of weak or noncompliant submissions contributing to delays, particularly for older and more complex cases.
One of the issues noted by assessors is the recurrence of problems such as missing fire test evidence, insufficient structural loading calculations, weak thermal performance data and poorly assembled document packs.
To tackle this, the regulator is setting up a specialist multidisciplinary team dedicated to external wall remediation, modelled on its Innovation Unit for new-build schemes. Dedicated account managers will also be introduced to manage applicant queries and free up technical leads to focus on determinations.
The BSR will also increase its use of “approval with requirements,” allowing projects to begin where safe while outstanding technical matters are resolved. Further measures include more direct engagement with applicants, the introduction of a formal prioritisation system and improved digital tracking to enhance visibility of applications.
“We recognise current determination times for remediation cases are falling short of statutory targets,” BSR Board Chair Lord Roe said in a statement. “This plan represents a targeted and achievable package of measures to reset the system and clear older legacy remediation cases.”
“By doing so and then focusing on more recent applications, we can ensure high-rise residents see essential safety improvements they deserve without unnecessary or further delays,” he added.
As part of the changes, monthly Gateway 2 transparency data will now include decisions made under the remediation recovery plan. The regulator aims to reduce live remediation caseloads to between 80 and 100 cases by 30 September and increase approval rates to more than 65%.
